Inmates help with theater restoration
They remove old seats at Strand

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By ADAM M. FABIAN
Eagle Staff Writer

ZELIENOPLE — Even though the exterior of the Strand Theater is renovated, the inside is far from complete.
But on Saturday that started to change.
Butler County Prison inmates, as part of their community service, helped by removing seats from the theater.
The work is the first step in renovating the interior of the theater, which Ron Carter hopes will host films, speaking events and small group performances on an apron stage.
The $4.4 million project includes the renovation of the building at 121 N. Main St. next to the theater, an elevator and stairs in the theater, and a multi-purpose room built on the back of the theater.
Shear Paradise, a hair salon in the adjacent building, will remain open and move into space there.
Carter, the executive director of the Strand Theater Initiative, which is the group working to restore it, said the initiative has $1 million for the interior renovations.
The inmates started the work before a contractor begins tearing out the interior of the theater.
After the inmates remove the 300 seats, Carter said the initiative will sell them through a private auction.
He said that this week the theater will be open by appointment so prospective buyers can see the seats and make bids. He said the seats will be sold in groups of two, four and possibly six.
He said the initiative also hopes to have an open house one day this week, although it has yet to be scheduled.
For information on the open house and the auction, visit www.thestrandtheater.org.