An exuberant Jeanine Holcomb gave a virtual unveiling of the recently updated Egyptian Theatre during this week’s Rotary meeting. Holcomb, the Theatre’s Marketing and Communications Director, explained how a $6.5 million dollar expansion will dramatically enhance the theatre-goers experience. Originally built in 1929, the approximately 1,400 seat theatre is an elaborately designed building with an Egyptian motif similar to what was used by up to one-hundred theatres at the time due to interest from the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. Only half-a-dozen survive today and the DeKalb Egyptian is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Holcomb said the renovations and expansion focused on improving patron amenities by adding air conditioning, upgrading and expanding rest rooms, and increasing the number of concession stations. The air conditioning is a first for the building and will enhance revenue by allowing year-round programming (previously the theatre was closed for three months during the summer). Limited washroom facilities were always a source of complaint according to Holcomb. As an example of the improvements made, she noted the first-floor women’s rest room has gone from three stalls and two sinks to 14 stalls and eight sinks. Holcomb added that significant effort was made to match the décor of the upgraded restrooms to the original theatre design. It will also be easier to obtain refreshments with the number of concession stations going from two to four on the main floor and two stations being added to the mezzanine level for the first time.
To accommodate all the upgrades, a 4,200 square foot two-story addition was added to the south side of the theatre. Ground for the addition was broken on May 1, 2019, 90-years to the date after the original theatre groundbreaking. However, just as the original theatre owners ended up having to deal with the stock market crash of 1929, the current Egyptian Theatre non-profit group must contend with the Covid-19 pandemic. Holcomb said they eagerly look forward to the time when regular show attendance can be resumed. In the meantime, you may visit their website at www.egyptiantheatre.org for updates or to make a contribution.