×

Buckhannon reviving town’s historic theater

BUCKHANNON — Zombies won’t be the only ghouls coming back from the dead this Halloween, as the city of Buckhannon and local artists resurrect a historic theater just in time for the holiday.

Buckhannon Community Theater and ART26201 will be hosting “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Colonial Theater on Main Street in Buckhannon Friday and Saturday.

Although the building is still being renovated, the city has been given the green light for the live performance featuring a full cast and band.

“This is a landmark event for our community,” said Bryson VanNostrand, a local patron of the arts and the architect who completed the design work for the theater pro bono. “We hope the community can come out and support the arts and the reawakening of this historic theater.”

Tickets can be obtained at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-rocky-horror-show-tickets-38114464389.

There are 150 tickets available per show, and it is open to people 18 years old or older.

This show will help raise money to continue renovations of the historic theater, which was opened in 1924. The theater also has ties to science fiction writer Gray Barker, a notable West Virginian who is considered one of the most prolific science fiction writers of all time.

The fictional characters who became known as the “Men in Black” made their first appearance in Barker’s novel “They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers.” Barker managed the Colonial Theater for approximately six years, starting in 1973, when he reopened the theater, naming it Cinema V.

Buckhannon bought the historic building in 2017 for $60,000. The goal was to create an arts destination in downtown Buckhannon and revitalize the historic structure on Main Street.

The city will also kick off Halloween festivities on Friday, Oct. 27 with an “Out of This World” dedication to Gray Barker at the theater.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. Buckhannon Mayor David McCauley encourages everyone to gather outside the theater for the “special, fun dedication.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today