REES Announces the Grand Reopening

Announcement of ‘REES for the Stars’ Grand Reopening Event starting Saturday, October 1st through October 8th, 2022! 

Randy Danielson and Donna Pontius, Co-chairs of the REES renovation, are proud to announce the REES Planning Committee is now working on the week-long celebration, with several events for the community. 

  • Sat. Oct 1st - Denver Bierman & Mile High Orchestra (MHO) and Trumpet Challenge at River Park Square

    • Dinner on the Street, Ribbon Cutting, Dedication

    • Denver Bierman & MHO, first concert on The Bob Pickell Performing Arts Stage

  • Sun. Oct. 2  - Community Tour

  • Tue. Oct. 4  - Whiskey and Wisdom Storytelling

  • Thu. Oct. 6  - Improv for Adults /Kids with Dennis McKeen

  • Sat.  Oct. 8  - Kids Movie - Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory  

These events will celebrate the vision of a renovated REES Theatre becoming reality. It all started with a presentation by Lincoln Jr. High students in 2015 at the Wild Rose Moon. Their visions were about what they wanted to see change in Plymouth – a REES renovation was one project they talked about. After five years of fundraising, planning, and stages of renovation, it will be restored as a multi-cultural center for the community. There will be six offerings for events at the REES theater - Cinema, Dance, Education, Events, Music, and Theater. The layout of the theater is versatile to accommodate either theater or banquet seating for any occasion. 

There has been great intent to do what Stewart and Opal Rees did back in 1940 when the theater first opened. They traveled to find best practices in theaters at that time and built a premier theater in art deco style with the newest in projection and sound equipment, air conditioning, comfortable seating, a cry room and automated hand dryers. 

In 2022, the focus with the new REES is sustainability and advanced technology. Being a green-driven project from the start, metals throughout the building and seating were reclaimed, the movie screen was repurposed into market bags, lumber dating back to 1865 is being repurposed, along with the original projector base, into balcony tables. A rooftop solar array was installed, and hydronic heat placed in the concrete floors. LED lighting and highly efficient heating and cooling units have been selected throughout. Acoustic design will provide for high quality sound and enhance the experience of an LED video wall. ADA accessible tiers in the auditorium and a handicap lift to the stage and orchestra pit will be greatly appreciated. 

The restoration of the REES could not have happened without this comnunity’s past and continuing support. Randy and Donna shared, “While envisioning the future over the past five years, we have imagined the possibilities, toiled over design details, been blessed with over a thousand ways of support, and with countless hours of volunteer service we have, as a community, saved The REES. This has truly been a labor of love. Thank you to each and every one, we have been amazed at what this community has been able to accomplish!” 

Now at the final stretch of the underwriting, soon to cross the finish line, The REES will be offering membership levels of support for the 2022-2023 season of performances. Executive Director, Dennis McKeen, is now scheduling events and moving forward. 

The new digital marquee has allowed The REES to announce news events, alerts, and celebrations. 

Watch for more information on the ‘REES for the Stars’ Grand Reopening and join us on Facebook!

Shelley Moore