In a blizzard on January 19, 1928, the Ohio Theatre opened on Park Avenue West in Mansfield. Ninety years later, the venue was renamed the Renaissance Theatre following a purchase and major restoration in the 1980s and has been continuously operated since as a performing arts organization and venue. The Renaissance will celebrate its 90th Anniversary on the weekend of its opening, January 18 through 20, 2018.
The lineup of events begins with a screening of The Shawshank Redemption on Thursday, January 18 at 7 PM. The film was, of course, filmed in Mansfield and premiered at the theatre. The screening will launch a year-long Stephen King Film Festival, sponsored by Charles P. Hahn, Cleveland Financial, screening a different Stephen King film each month. Tickets for each of the films, including The Shawshank Redemption are $5 general admission and available online, at the Box Office, and at the door.
Friday evening, the Renaissance will present “Murder Mystery at the Ohio Theatre,” an interactive theatre experience limited to 100 guests who will try to solve a murder mystery inspired by the 1929 murder that took place at the theatre. Guests will interact with actors and evidence and try to solve the 89-year-old unsolved mystery. Tickets for that event are $25, include hors d’oeuvres, and are available at the Renaissance Box Office, online at mansfieldtickets.com, and via phone at (419)522-2726. Because availability is limited, it is unlikely tickets will be available at the door for that event.
The culmination of the weekend will take place on Saturday, January 20, 2018 beginning with a 90th Anniversary Celebration Dinner at 5:30 PM at the former Mansfield Women’s Club across from the Renaissance Theatre. Seating is limited to 150 for that event, which will feature a menu of roasted chicken, stuffed peppers, garlic mashed potatoes, vegetables, salad, and dessert, served with specialty Cypress Cellars Renaissance Red and Renaissance White wines created to commemorate the anniversary. Tickets for dinner include admission to the evening’s event at the theatre, and are $45 each for current Renaissance Members, and $62.50 for non-members.
Then, at 7 PM, the Renaissance will re-create opening night at the Ohio Theatre. They will open with a vaudeville dance act from Neos Dance Theatre, followed by a screening of a fully-restored copy of the film shown on opening night, Clara Bow’s “Get Your Man.” Following the screening, a chamber group from the Mansfield Symphony will perform in the lobby to accompany a cake and champagne toast to the theatre. The Renaissance will close down Park Avenue West for a red carpet entry to dinner and to the event in front of the theatre from 5 to 8 PM. Tickets to the 90th Anniversary Celebration on January 20th at 7 PM are $28.00 and on sale now at the Renaissance Box Office, online at MansfieldTickets.com, and via phone at (419)522-2726.
The 90th Anniversary Weekend is presented with support from Nanogate Jay Systems, LLC; Mansfield Distributing, the Hipp Family Foundation, Cypress Cellars, and Pan-Glo. For more info about the Renaissance 90th Anniversary Weekend, visit MansfieldTickets.com/90.
Source, Photo: Renaissance Performing Arts Association
