Penn College News

Downtime allows spruce-up at CAC

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Last July, the Community Arts Center was worse for wear after a heavy rainstorm left the roof and stage water-damaged. Through the support and generosity of the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, and the guidance of Pennsylvania College of Technology, roof repairs began on March 10.

Just days later, Lycoming County went into quarantine. The contractor was able to secure a permit to continue repairs, however, and successfully completed the project on May 7.



Roof repairs were completed last month at the Community Arts Center, seen in this photo looking to the northeast from West Fourth Street.“What’s true in your house in true in a theater. Security starts with a good roof. Waterfalls are beautiful, but not indoors and not onto a maple floor," said executive director Chuck Still about completing repairs as soon as humanly possible. "We want to thank COVID-19 for giving us an empty theater and the First Community Foundation Partnership for giving us the means to secure our house and move the waterfall outside.”

Attention now turns to the CAC's storied stage, which eagerly awaits the post-pandemic return of performers.With the completion of the roof, the CAC focuses its attention on repairing the stage: a stage that has hosted such world-renowned performers as Aretha Franklin, Yo-Yo Ma, Jerry Seinfeld, Willie Nelson and, most recently, Lewis Black, since its reopening in May 1993.

The stage now features a talented group of handymen, contractors and carpenters, who will return the maple floor to its former glory. While the stage repairs were originally slotted for mid-July, the CAC took the opportunity to move renovations forward due to the downtime created by canceled performances.

“We know how important it is to utilize the time we were given, and use this opportunity to improve the structure and aesthetic of the theater,” commented Courtney Fowler, marketing manager. “We are so grateful for the hard work that has gone into the repairs to bring the theater back up to the standard this community and our performers expect.”

Look forward to more great performances when the doors of the Arts Center – a wholly owned subsidiary of Penn College – reopen.