The Twin Cinema on Bowling Lane will soon be seating audiences, but instead of movies, the spectators will be watching live theater productions.
The Orange Community Players will be moving to the former movie house. Blame it on Harvey.
The OCP Playhouse on West Division Avenue across from the Orange County Courthouse flooded during the tropical storm in late August. The Twin Cinema, though it did not flood, closed permanently after the storm.
On Friday, OCP Board President Paul Burch said the non-profit group is buying the cinema building and is set to close on the real estate deal May 15. He said the larger building will allow the group to have more activities, particularly for youth.
The former cinema comes with a large parking lot and OCP can hold events there, he said.
The group will need to have a fundraiser to get a storage building. Burch said the cinema building does not have room for scenery and stage props.
OCP moved into the Division Avenue playhouse in 1960. The playhouse underwent a major renovation in 2008 and was then flooded during Hurricane Ike before the season opened.
The playhouse once again went through major reconstruction. During the past couple of years, the playhouse had a leaking roof and OCP was raising money for repairs.
Tropical Storm Harvey flooded the playhouse for a second time. The theater has been stripped to its studs.
Burch said the cinema building offered a solution for a new playhouse and gives new opportunities. He said the marquee can be seen from the Highway 87 overpass nearby and will let travelers know what’s coming up.
Those motorists will be seeing the word “whorehouse,” but they shouldn’t expect a house of ill repute.
The first production in the new playhouse will be the musical “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” The cast was ready to perform when Harvey hit and will go back into rehearsals to begin the 2018-19 season.
OCP’s roots in Orange go back to 1950 when local amateur thespians formed “Town Theatre” and performed in school auditoriums at Carr Junior High and Anderson Elementary.
The OCP website says the group changed its name to Orange Community Players in 1957 and found a permanent home on Division Avenue in 1960.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
Brilliant move! So glad that they will now be high and dry.
Great news!
Awesome!
This is disappointing
I am so sad..we need a theater here..we have nothing for young ones to do..they go to beaumont, or some where else..we are building a Burger king we don’t need…it’s just really sad..it’s been this way when they took the MaCArthur circle out, hospital is closed, no theater…that’s why people are leaving…keep closing stuff and we won’t have a town…
WE don’t build a Burger King, and WE don’t close businesses, and hospitals. INVESTORS who have put up their own money, or committed to a Bank Loan, are the ones who open or close things. PROFIT is the key. A Theater, or restaurant or a hospital is not a service offered by WE, or the government, but an investment venture for the purpose of making money.
It takes a lot of money to run a theater.
Hope there’s some financial backing in the works.
Kids DO need things to do & parents need to do things with kids but here’s a thought I’ve seen no one express. Why don’t parents start taking their kids to these live productions? Many years ago I went to the playhouse on Division & saw the Sound of Music & was mesmerized at how great the talent is in our little town. Who knows? By introducing our kids to these shows, we might ignite a spark in them to pursue the performing arts, music or some other passion that helps them either grow as a person, or introduces them to lots of great new friends who share the same interests. I certainly see no harm in a fun evening out with your family when a show like this is performed at our new Theater. Speaking for me, I KNOW I’d much rather support our local artisans than the Hollywood actors on a screen who just starred in a movie. I say this is a great thing for Orange!
Eager for OCP to be up and running again. Looking forward to the 2018-2019 season.
Happy that OCP has a place . Sad that this pretty much makes it a 0% chance of having a movie theatre again.
Hope they invest in some new seats. Sad to have to drive to Beaumont or PA to see a movie.
This is a great place for OCP to set up shop. The old site will be missed but Harvey has opened up new opportunities for businesses and nonprofits. . Yes Orange needs a movie theater but this site is not the right place any longer. A movie theater needs to be in a better location for all of Orange County and SWla, and built up to current standards for it to sustain. So Excited for OCP. !! I’ll be watching for fundraiser.
Smart move! Congratulations!
I thought so too
Congratulations on a wonderful decision to take advantage of a great opportunity. So sad to have lost the Division Street building and all of the history held in those walls. Good thing they could not talk ! We have our memories and it is an exciting time to add to them in a new space.
Maybe in the off season there could be movies ?
Paul, I know you and the other people involved in the theater will be happy in the new location. I am anxious to see a play there. So glad you all have a new home. wanda
This is a nice idea. The building will no longer be empty and hopefully the people behind the Orange County Community players can bring some fun back to Orange. I am looking forward to seeing what their creativity will bring.
I agree no sense in that old theatre rotting away just sitting there let’s use it for something good n maybe no more flooding