Panida Theater calendar overflows with offerings

By DAVID GUNTER

Feature correspondent

SANDPOINT — On a recent, weekday morning, the Panida Theater was spilling over with activity.

Downstairs in the auditorium, a tech crew was involved in the load-in and set-up for Friday’s two performances of the ‘Illusio’ magic show. Upstairs, the staff of executive director Patricia Walker, booking manager Becky Revak and technical director Bill Lewis were busy unpacking digital films that had just arrived, going over technical requirements for upcoming shows and fielding calls that had them trying to find ways to sandwich more events into an already crowded calendar.

And it’s not as if they were about to heave a sigh of relief after the rush, either. Saturday saw the arrival of a technically dense rock ‘n’ roll tribute show, followed by non-stop films running through spring break week.

These days, it’s all hands on deck all the time at the historic, downtown landmark theater.

“It’s gotten progressively bigger, and we just keep adding on,” said Walker.

“We did not have one empty day in all of February,” Revak added.

March wound up its cycle in much the same way. April, for the record, is pretty darned packed, too.

The theater’s embarrassment of riches, when it comes to bookings, is due to three main components. First, there are the tech upgrades that have been checked off over the past several years.

Starting under the leadership of now-retired Panida executive director Karen Bowers and the board of directors in place at the time, the theater began the expensive and somewhat painful transition from film to digital movies — a shift mandated by a movie industry that changed over to the new format.

Second on the list was a series of structural, cosmetic and equipment-related improvements, including repairs to the auditorium ceiling, a complete sprucing up of that same space and the addition of new lighting and — just this year — new house sound gear.

Third and perhaps most critical, there has been a passing of the torch from a generation that helped save the iconic building from being torn down more than 30 years ago to their kids and grandkids. As that handoff transpires, the Panida has done its part to make certain there are ample offerings to satisfy what has turned into a dramatically broadened demographic.

Just as it did when it opened on First Avenue in 1927, the theater draws the majority of its audiences in with movies — a mainstay of the Panida’s cultural menu that, if anything, delivers more choices than ever.

“To hit all the needs of the community, we’ve really broadened the scope and the different genres,” Walker said.

For those who might have missed the evolution, the theater now shows new-release blockbusters, art house films, kid’s movies, foreign titles and a host of national and international film festival compilations year-round. Making the most of both its digital and community connections, the theater also takes the audience behind the scenes with either on-screen or on-stage live discussions with filmmakers and actors after some of the showings. It’s a value-added school of marketing that makes going to the movies a truly interactive and educational experience.

“For instance, when we show ‘The Shack’ later in April, we’ll have the producer here to talk about the movie,” said Walker.

“KRFY community radio brought in Viggo Mortensen and now Kochava is bringing in the producer for ‘The Shack,’” Revak said. “These kinds of things promote the event and help the community at the same time.”

In lockstep with a resurgence in all things theatrical, the Panida also has moved into the role of accommodating host to plays and musicals — both on the main stage and, for smaller productions, in the Panida Little Theater next door.

“It went from one outside theatre event to all kinds of dinner theatre and musicals,” said Revak.

“That was one of the tasks given to me when I arrived and we were able to make that happen,” Walker said.

One of the newest areas of growth has been in live music, with a state-of-the-art sound system and expanded stage lighting paving the way for wider interest from traveling bands and solo artists alike. According to the executive director, the word is out about the theater and its newfound ability to offer “plug and play” capability to touring artists.

“People are calling us now,” she said, adding that the bookings range from the highly complex with light shows and full rock bands to the solo piano concert coming up with Allen James Teague on April 14. “We can now go from high-tech to a concert that brings it all the way back to basics — the pure sound of a piano.”

As part of upgrading the sound, the theater enlisted the help of three regional experts who traveled to Sandpoint to provide tips on the best system that would bridge the needs of film showings, live theater and concerts.

“It was great to have all three here in a powwow about how to make this theater really jump with one sound system,” said Revak.

Now able to support large musical groups or place wireless microphones on actors and singers in stage productions, the Panida also stepped the audio up to support the enhanced visual experience of digital movies.

“We have a true, 7.1 Surround Sound system in here now,” Revak said. “And you can hear everything.”

The push for new sound came as technological improvements in other areas started to draw attention to things such as the classic Voice of the Theater speaker system — a staple of the film movie era but woefully inadequate for today’s sound-intensive blockbuster movies — and a well-used mixing board that finally bit the dust.

“I didn’t want to throw good money after bad equipment and try to limp things along,” said Walker. “My line is: Not everything in the Panida should be historic. And the sound system was a biggie.”

And while these bells and whistles are undoubtedly cool, the Panida Theater has a stronger advantage when it comes to attracting an audience. In Sandpoint proper, around Bonner County as a whole and throughout the wider region of the Inland Northwest, the historic movie house turned modern performance facility has engendered the pride and loyalty of those who come to see the shows.

And when they do, they almost always stop by a downtown restaurant or watering hole as part of attending the event. That connection, Walker pointed out, makes the theater a big player in the local economy.

“When the Panida has a concert or a movie, somebody else has a job, because people go out before or after the show,” she said. “That ticket you buys fuels the whole community.”

For the latest slate of events at the Panida Theater, visit online at: www.panida.org