In a blend of entertainment and community engagement, the Mount Elizabeth Theatre (MET) has introduced a novel approach to fund its seat replacement program. The beloved local performing arts venue, which regularly hosts theatrical productions, concerts, and various large events, is now inviting residents to drop by and enjoy its twice-monthly movie night.
“We don’t want to blur the lines,” said theatre manager Brenda Feldhoff. “We’re not a movie theatre, but we are a theatre that shows movies.”
These movie nights are an invitation to the community to experience the MET in a new light, with the aim of familiarising them with the space and encouraging future visits for live performances. Each screening will occur once on a Friday evening for general audiences and once on a Sunday afternoon for children. Entrance is by donation, ensuring accessibility for all, while directing all proceeds to the theatre’s seat replacement program.
The seats have been in need of replacement for 30 years.
Their condition worsened significantly in 1996 following an act of vandalism that left a section of the seating area stained with paint. This area, marked by mismatched fabric, serves as a reminder of the dire need for refurbishment.
“They’re really long in the tooth,” commented Feldhoff. “They’re really squeaky too, to the point of being disruptive to the performers. We’ve done maintenance on them year after year, but the springs are going and the cushioning is patted out.”
The idea for a movie night emerged from a 2021 online survey conducted among Kitimat residents, inquiring about their entertainment preferences. The survey revealed a strong desire for a movie theatre experience, which led to the idea of using the MET for this purpose.
The MET is also promoting its “Take a Seat, Leave a Legacy” program. This initiative allows individuals to purchase a $100 plaque for a theatre seat, dedicated to a deceased loved one or for milestone events like weddings or graduations. Initiated by Feldhoff about 20 years ago, the program has raised about $10,000 to date. But with a replacement budget of $200,000, more aggressive fundraising strategies are being considered.
Movie nights will contribute to that effort, but it is designed moreso to leverage interest from potential benefactors and grant issuers.
“I hope, with time, it will add nicely to our fundraising, but at the same time we don’t want entry fees to be so high as to exclude anyone, so it’s by donation only. It’s not going to be a huge money maker,” Feldhoff said.
She noted that LNG Canada has contributed an undisclosed amount to the effort as a community partner for movie nights, but significant fundraising remains.
The upcoming movie nights at MET are set to feature “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” on January 26, followed by “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” on January 28.