By Sara Strong
The Palace Theatre is about to resurface as a local entertainment hotspot.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 10 through Jan. 12, will bring a movie to the historic theater.
"We really want to look at our audience and get movies that will fit a wide range of interest — families and older people," said Tammy Makram, director of the Council for Arts and Humanities in Rock County.
The upcoming movie hasn’t been chosen yet, but will come through Universal Studios because of licensing agreements.
Soon, the options will open for the Palace and more studios will show movies there.
"We want people to see films they wouldn’t have been able to see in Sioux Falls," Makram said.
Independent movies, well-reviewed or award-winning movies are a goal for Makram to get in the Palace. Classics, such as Alfred Hitchock productions, are also a priority.
Makram will work as part of a committee, including Ben Vander Kooi, who’s taken on the Palace as a sort of pet community project.
"We hope people look to the Palace as a place for events, plays, performances or talent shows," Vander Kooi had previously said about the theater.
The Blue Mound Area Theater Board has owned the Palace Theatre for less than a year, and said its goal was to keep it open for public enjoyment.
The movies (other than the first one) will be shown the first weekend of the month. Vander Kooi said he hopes the first weekend routine becomes habit for people wanting to see movies.
The Palace’s marquee, newspaper ads, radio spots and the Carnegie Cultural Center and the Carnegie Web site will announce the upcoming movies.
An important part of the new movie nights, Makram said, is that the community feels it has a say in what’s shown.
"We appreciate community input too. Let us know what movies that we should try to get in the Palace," Makram said.
A good way to reach the movie committee is through Makram at the Carnegie Cultural Center at 283-8294 or through e-mail at infor@rockartsrock.com.
Up next at the Palace
The Green Earth Players have set a date for their 25th anniversary Variety Show Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 8 and 9.
Prudence Johnson, a jazz singer who takes stage with a single pianist, will perform at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 23.
"We are very fortunate to get her because she’s going national and is working with a big management company," Makram said,
Tickets can be purchased through the box office at the Carnegie Cultural Center during regular hours 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays.