Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cultural Venue Reopening topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Executive director says Marymount Theater reopening campaign is 95% pledged; staff could return if $50,000 gap closes
Summary
Allison West told council the theater’s $1 million campaign is 95% pledged; closing the campaign by the end of July would allow staff to return in August and move toward a reopening date. She outlined technical upgrades, membership tiers, and fundraising progress.
Allison West, executive director and founder of Syndependent, told the Village of Mariemont council that the Marymount Theater reopening campaign has reached 95% of a $1,000,000 goal. West said closing the campaign by the end of July would let staff return on site in August and allow the organization to set an opening date after completing operational planning.
West outlined recent investments and improvements: five new digital cinema projectors, three new screens, upgrades to 5.1 surround sound in auditoriums, accessibility improvements, and interior refreshes designed to honor the theater’s historical character. She said the theater’s liquor license has been approved and that an outdoor patio is planned to support concessions and community gatherings.
Memberships and donations are a key near‑term focus. West said the organization added 13 memberships that day, bringing the total to 318 member households, and recorded approximately $7,250 in combined memberships and one‑time donations during that reporting period. She said about $50,000 remains to be pledged before she will comfortably set an opening date; once the campaign closes she plans to announce next steps via video and newsletter.
Councilors asked logistical questions about concessions and staffing. West said staff hiring announcements will be posted within two weeks and that former staff and local partners are likely recruitment sources. She provided a mailing address for donations (6906 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio) and directed interested residents to marymounttheater.org to join the Friends of the Marymount Theater membership program.
West thanked volunteers and longtime managers who have helped rebuild operations and emphasized she will not promise an opening date until planning and staffing are secure.
Next steps: West will return with operational timelines when campaign closure allows concrete staffing and opening‑date planning.
