The Milton Theatre builds on history to create vibrant future

My memories of the Milton Theatre go way back. As a child and young teen, I traipsed down the big hill from my house to see movies or hang out at the snack bar when it was called Roxies, after the mother of Ed Scott, who once ran it with his wife Helen. Back then, you could get a cone with a dip of vanilla ice cream for a mere 25 cents.

The theater had murals painted on the interior walls during the Great Depression as part of the Work Projects Administration; they adorned both sides of the theater and are still prominently displayed. Many years ago, the marquee might promise Elvis movies, or Liz Taylor and Paul Newman in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," or Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" The heavy maroon curtain would rise, and you'd look around to see which classmates were sitting together or what love interest they might later even marry as they dug into bags of popcorn or held hands.

I remember Frank and Frances Hitchens, she of the great and large Milton family, the Millmans. They would always be sitting out front waiting for their daughter Kay to exit the theater doors and drive her home safely. They didn't want Kay to go to the pool hall next door with the purple light!

I don't remember whether I was picked up by my father, or if I walked home up the hill in the dark. Milton was safe, even on Halloween when children trick-or-treated in small groups without their parents.

One unforgettable time was the big Storm of 1962 that flooded all of downtown Milton, including the Milton Theatre at 110 Union St. Boats were rowed down the street, and the theater was deluged and closed for many years, until my neighbors, Fred Munzert and John Paul “JP” Lacap, reopened it successfully in 2014. Fred was originally from New Castle and had worked in Los Angeles in musical and theater ensembles, and on other artistic projects. He got together with Lisa Sumstine from the Milton Chamber of Commerce, and the rest is history!

Fred had a tea leaf reading, and the fortune teller predicted that he would take care of a really old building on the water, which turned out to be true! The theater is very successful and has become a real boon to Milton's economy and cultural footprint, judging by the looks of local restaurants and downtown parking lots on show nights. Fred and his partner, JP, are making many new improvements and care very deeply about the comfort and care of the performers who make their way to Milton. I even learned that the yellow house next door to the theater is used for lodging of visiting performers who finish their shows too late to travel home or who are in Milton for multiple show dates. What a nice and thoughtful benefit!

Some very exciting renovations are about to begin, and some will benefit the performers. Right now, performers of every artistic discipline must dress upstairs and then walk a circuitous path through the upper floor, exit the building regardless of the weather, walk down a flight of outdoor stairs, and re-enter stage left. This will all change for the better with one phase of the renovation.

Another major phase will add new square footage in the back of the existing building for theater education, including for students. There have been four summer camps so far, with 65 young students per day! The brand-new space will better facilitate their immersion into the world of music and theater.

Before the new theater seats were installed, the old, water-soaked chairs from the flood of 1962 had been removed, and for awhile, Milton citizens brought folding chairs with their names written on masking tape. At the bottom of the flight of well-lit stairs to the recently renovated balcony are two of the original flood-soaked chairs that remind us of the past and help us appreciate the beautiful new chairs.

I first met Fred Munzert at the Horseshoe Crab Festival in Milton many years ago. He purchased a painting I had done of the theater, which was still wet to the touch since I had just finished it at 3 a.m. the night before! I liken it to the theater itself, which was wet from the flood many moons ago. Both the painting and the theater are now dry and bringing joy to many!

Since it's October, you must come and enjoy a theater-sponsored event, the Zombie Fest, to be held at 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, at Hudson Fields outside Milton, which will help financially support this wonderful cultural addition to our town.

Finally, speaking of seats, here's your chance to put your name permanently on one of their main reserved seats for just $350, which is 100% tax-deductible, to help finance the new education wing. Be part of Milton's history! Learn more at miltontheatre.com.