The Pearl Theater needs community support to reopen its doors and entertain audiences
By Jillian Chandler
“We’re anxious to reopen and are actively working toward making that happen,” Jessica Tingley, board president of the Pearl Theater, stated in mid-September.
On Wednesday, September 16, the Pearl Theater Board met to formally vote on reopening the venue and return to its normal schedule. Unfortunately, the evening resulted with the decision to postpone the reopening.
"As an all volunteer organization, we rely on unpaid volunteers to plan and staff all our events, and we just don’t have enough volunteers at this time," states Jessica. “We’ll keep working on recruiting volunteers, but for now we’ll remain closed.”
Though this news may come as a disappointment, staff and volunteers have worked hard to prepare the Pearl for the day it will reopen, which is sure to be met with much excitement!
“We've had a busy summer at the Pearl between working on building maintenance and upkeep, plus renting it out for private events,” says Jessica. “We were very lucky that an individual rented the Pearl for an entire month, which was a real financial blessing. It also gave us an opportunity to reconnect with our dedicated volunteers and to do a serious, deep cleaning and continue to work on a comprehensive reopening plan that complied with Phase 4 requirements.”
Jessica notes that the closure of the Pearl over the past six months has been disappointing to their members—especially for new members. Memberships have been automatically extended for six months, and they have some special benefits planned for renewing members, including a new VIP program.
“While it is disappointing to remain closed, the safety and comfort of our volunteers and patrons remains our top priority,” she affirms.
Some virtual events are in the works, and the Pearl is available for rent for anyone wanting to put on a show themselves.
“I think everyone is really looking forward to seeing the familiar faces that have been greatly missed for the last six months. We can't wait to fill the Pearl with live music, movies, and of course Nora's amazing sweet treats in the cafe!” smiles Jessica.
The Pearl Theater is located at 7160 Ash Street. For up-to-date information, visit ThePearlTheater.org, call 208.610.2846, email info@thepearltheater.org or follow The Pearl Theater on Facebook.