BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- The marquee is up and donations continue to pour in as the Massena Schine Theater restoration project comes back to life. 

Crews were able to install the original marquee yesterday, Sept. 30, after months of restoration efforts and planning. 

It marks a significant step forward for the project, which has secured $2.7 million in state grants in recent years. 

But to utilize those funds, fundraising continues to meet the benchmarks necessary to unlock chunks of state funds. It's an effort the Massena Arts and Theater Association board continues to push forward with.

In quarter three, the MATA board officially announced the capital campaign “Unlock the Schine.” 

“We need for the general public to understand without any jargon or confusion where we are,” MATA President Allison Smith said.

 “These grant funds, and being able to use the theater again are locked, and we need the public’s help to achieve this goal for Massena and the North Country.”

The marquee comes thanks to donations from Seacomm Federal Credit Union, who have played a crucial role in the restoration and installation process, MATA said. 

A lighting ceremony will be held Oct. 15 with a number of vendors and food trucks taking part. 

Main Street will be shut down from 5-9 p.m., with the ceremony tentatively scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 

Donations continue to pour in as well, with more than $60,000 donated in the last three months alone. 

MATA officials recently held an auction of the original seats to raise funds for the restoration project, which many said was a big success. 

"As for the seats we had a few interested individuals who purchased some for their homes. We are restoring about 30 of the original seats that will be in the balcony if people want to sit in an authentic seat from the theater, and a pair of seats are being donated to the Massena Museum to preserve the history. Finally, we had a generous donor make a contribution and they are holding onto the remaining art deco end plates. The surplus of the seats are going to be recycled through the proper channels. We look forward to offering our future patrons comfortable seating that aligns with our business plans to make this theater a success for generations to come," MATA officials said. 

In September alone, MATA received over $25,000 to break through the $60,000 goal by the scheduled Oct. 1 deadline. 

The effort was a huge success thanks to the Traveling Chevaliers, who partnered with MATA for the September special fundraiser to push the organization across the finish line, officials said. 

In total, MATA raised $60,144.44 in the last three months for the project. 

In the coming months, the organization will host a number of events to continue raising the remaining $367,107.78 (as of August 31) to meet the requirements to unlock the remaining grants that have been secured which total over $2.74 million, MATA officials said. 

Saturday, Oct. 18 will also see MATA board members and volunteers host a number of children's activities at the theater during Massena's Fall Fest: Pumpkinpolooza. 

More details will be available on the Schine Theater's Facebook page in the near future. 

On Saturday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m., Mike Viskovitch will also host a trivia night at the Massena Elks Lodge, an event that will feature both silent and live auctions, as well as live music during breaks. 

Registration is available at massenaschinetheater.com and is limited to the first 30 teams of four people. 

A raffle is also underway with the chance to win up to $1,000, with t-shirts and stickers available as thank you gestures for donations of certain levels. 

For more information about the Schine Theater restoration project, visit info@massenaschinetheater.com.

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