Looking ahead - looking back

By Sarah Arkin

Published: April 30, 2008

In case the first one didn’t live up to expectations, the North Theatre is hosting a “second-chance prom” fundraiser Saturday as part of an ongoing revitalization effort.

In addition to showing movies, the North Theatre also hosts musical acts and other forms of classic entertainment.

Members of the North Theatre Action Board hope to utilize the space for other forms of entertainment and bring in a larger and more demographically diverse crowd. The idea behind the second-chance prom fundraiser is to start generating excitement.

“We’re trying to give people something to do in Danville,” board member Blair Utterback said Saturday. “The theater could be used more for more (types of events).”

She said that providing more activities and entertainment in Danville is crucial to its growth.

The North Theatre is the last of nine theaters that once called Danville home, board secretary Linwood Duncan said.

“For the city of Danville and for any community it’s important (to preserve) historic structures, which help to tell the story of the community,” Duncan said.
“(The theater) certainly is one of the anchors of the North Danville Historic District.” 

He added that “not unlike the restoration of the train station and other buildings in the Historic District (that) helped other development,” restoring the theater hopefully would have a similar spillover effect to the neighborhood.

Members of the North Theatre Action Board hope to use the theater to infuse a little more life into the district.
“It would be nice to keep (young people) here to build up the area and the future of Danville,” Utterback said.

A prom theme targets a demographic that board members say has limited options in Danville.

“We’re far enough out of high school that we’d want to go again,” Utterback said. “It’s supposed to be cheesy and fun, a fun time for everyone, not something stuffy.”

Ultimately, the board wants to see the theater “be able to support itself without independent contributions,” she said.

The prom will take place from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the North Theatre on North Main Street.

Disc jockey Jay Rojas will provide the soundtrack and there will be a raffle for prizes, including dinner at Southern Gourmet and Sal’s Restaurant, and a night at Barry Hill Resort in Halifax.

Prom goers must be 21 and over. Tickets are $20 and include food and drinks.
For reservations, call (434) 7792-2700.
• Contact Sarah Arkin at or (434) 791-7983.