Birthday bash to hit the stage at the Milton Theatre

Within minutes of stepping inside Milton Theatre, Fred Munzert knew he had found something special.

“We really were in the building for just minutes when we said we have to be a part of this,” he said.

It's now been one year since Munzert's Premier Centre for the Arts reopened the doors of the theater, which had been closed for at least four years. Those doors aren't closing any time soon, he said.

“We just jumped into it, and it just made sense,” Munzert said. “Now, a year later, here we are.”

In a year's time, Munzert said, he has sold more than 10,000 tickets, hosted multiple performances nearly every week, recruited dozens of volunteers and helped more than 200 children and adults experience theater arts through classes and workshops.

It's cause for celebration, he said, which is why he is hosting a birthday bash at the theater Saturday, June 20. The event will be catered by a(MUSE) chef Hari Cameron, with proceeds benefiting the MUSE scholarship fund.

While the outpouring of support from the Milton community has been tremendous, Munzert said more than 50 percent of each audience is from outside the Milton ZIP code, something he attributes to increasing traffic downtown.

“It's not just Milton people participating,” he said. “We feel like the people in the area have really been a part and felt like it's their theater as well.”

From comedy to drag shows to musical theater, the Milton Theatre has something for everyone, Munzert said. The space is perfect for hosting fundraisers, such as this fall's Zombie Walk and Apocalypse Ball, which raised money for CASA San Francisco, or more private events, like the first wedding ceremony and reception held at the theater June 13.

“I love seeing the transformation of the space,” he said.

Munzert founded Premier Centre for the Arts in Middletown 15 years ago, and while his experience there and at other venues across the country has given him the tools to succeed in the theater business, he said none of it would be possible without his volunteers.

About 25 active volunteers help with ushering, concessions, marketing, copywriting, design and more, Munzert said. But the most important part is getting creative feedback from people who really care about the theater's success.

“Any organization like this is what it is because of the volunteer force,” he said. “I kind of have an attitude that I'll do anything, which can be scary, but the volunteers know that … It's cool to be able to dream out loud and think like that. We want people to feel something, even on the volunteer level.”

In years to come, Munzert said he hopes to tackle a few major projects.

This summer, a college film contest will feature the Town of Milton, with filming and shows held at the theater the second week of August. Munzert said PCA's educational programs are growing, with 16 summer camps lined up for summer 2015, and participants are still needed.

This summer, he said, Bacchus Wine Bar next door will be open its doors and provide a possible opportunity for partnerships for wine tastings, possibly turning their shared alley into a small outdoor café area.

In the distant future, Munzert said he hopes to find a more economical way to heat the building, as well as possibly rebuilding the balcony, which could increase seating by hundreds.

But no matter what happens, one thing is certain: The show will go on at the Milton Theatre.

“We're bombarded with so much, sometimes it feels like overload, so to walk into the theater, whether it's a music show, a musical production, it's an escape. I'm excited about continuing to find new, fun ways to get people to experience things,” Munzert said.

“I have no intention of leaving. I am here.”