State Theatre marquee illuminates the night

Several hundred people gathered in front of the State Theatre tonight and yelled in unison “pull that switch” as a countdown reached zero and Greg and Liz Yates threw a switch to light the newly refurbished theatre marquee.

The bright lights came on and the crowd cheered enthusiastically.

Prior to the lighting,,theatre executive director Ed Bednarczyk told the crowd that they were standing in the same spot where the marquee was originally lighted nearly 75 years ago. Local resident Wuzzy Gilmore was at that event and there tonight as well.

“This will be a state-of-the-art performance arts center with about 85 percent live performances and the other 15 percent movies,” Bednarczyk said prior to the illumination. “We are partnering with our friends up on the hill, the Library of Congress, and with local schools to also offer workshops and mentoring as well as movies.”

The $9 million theatre renovation and expansion project has turned a rundown building into what will surely be a crown jewel of downtown Culpeper.