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Managing Editor HOLYOKE The offices of the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts (MIFA) overlook the Victory Theater building on Suffolk Street. That's appropriate as one of the highlights on this year's MIFA schedule is "the Inaugural Victory Theater tour." The organization, in existence since 1993, became well known in the area in 2003 when it presented Mikhail Baryshnikov for an evening of solo dance performances at the War Memorial auditorium. MIFA moved to the city in 2005. Since then the organization has spent $1.74 million in staging 25 events. Donald Sanders, the artistic director for MIFA, explained at the organization's open house on Friday that the theater will be "broom clean" and open to the public for the first time since it was closed in 1979. The Victory was built in 1920 and was designed not just as a movie theater but has a vaudeville house will a full theatrical stage, which Sanders described as " so precious." A previous group called "Save the Victory" tried to raise the funding necessary to renovate the theater in the 1980s, but was unsuccessful. He said the Victory with its stage is the only theater of its kind in this section of the Northeast. The Victory has 1,600 seats, putting it in the same capacity as a Broadway theater in New York City. The Victory, which suffered from a leaking roof and water damage, has been sealed, he said, although electricity has not been restored to the building. Power for work lights to illuminate the building will be from a generator, he said. MIFA currently leases the building from the city for $1 a year and the tour on Sept. 27 will kick off a new round of fundraising. A detailed report on the structure has been done, which will allow the renovation move forward, he added. The price tag for renovating and re-opening the theater is $25 million, Sanders said. "Worcester has done it. Pittsfield has done it," Sanders said, listing other communities that have brought old theaters back to life. He noted that the Mohawk Theater in North Adams is currently being renovated. Jodi Cutler, a MIFA associate, said the restoration of the Victory would bring the arts to the downtown and lead a restoration of the area. "We see the gem of the Victory," she added. Sanders said that market studies have shown there are 210,000 people in the communities adjoining Holyoke and this would provide the base audience for events at the Victory. Besides the Victory tour, MIFA will be presenting a trip to the Edinburgh Festival from Aug. 17 through 22. Cutler said there are still slots available on the tour. On Oct. 25 and 26, the American premiere of the Russian opera "Orfei," an 18th century melodrama, will be staged at the War Memorial. The opera was commissioned by Catherine the Great and the music will be performed on period instruments. On Nov. 1, the 1921 silent film "La Terre," based on the novel by Emile Zola, will be screened at the United Congregational Church in Holyoke with the organist of the Cathedral of Notre Dame-Paris providing the musical accompaniment on the church's organ. For more details on MIFA's program, go to www.mifafestival.org or call 540-0200. | ||||||
