The Empire is striking back at the Stonington Opera House, which is planning a free screening of the second film in the “Star Wars” series this month, following a series of system upgrades.
“Theaters typically take a ‘dark month’ at the start of each year to clean house and perform maintenance that would otherwise disrupt programming. This year, we are most excited by our continued effort to update our lighting systems,” states Braden Hooter, the theater’s production manager, told Mainebiz via email.
“Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back,” released in 1980, will be shown on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the venue, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The curtain will go up at 6 p.m., taking viewers to a galaxy far, far away.
The Stonington Opera House was built in 1912 on the site of an earlier hall destroyed by fire.
In 1999, the building was rescued from years of abandonment and decay by Opera House Arts, a 501(c)3 nonprofit established to restore the building to its original purpose in the 1,057-population Hancock County town anchored by a busy commercial fishing pier.
‘Can’t wait’ to see Yoda
Opera House Arts is staffed by eight full-time and three part–time employees and operates the theater year-round, though busiest in June through August.
Last year, the opera celebrated the theater’s reopening after its dark month with a free screening of 1977’s “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.”
“We continue the saga by opening the theater for the next installment in the classic series and can’t wait to see Yoda’s first appearance on our big screen,” explained spokeswoman Jessica Shively.
By the end of this year, the group will have invested almost $100,000 in theater audio and video upgrades, audience lobby amenities and improved housing accommodations for visiting artists.
By offering free and discounted programs for $5 or pay-as-you-can, the theater aims to remove financial barriers to live theater and entertainment for community members. Out of 100 programs planned this year, 40 will be offered at discounted admission prices.