The Academy Theater needs to update to digital projection in order to stay in business. This costs a lot of money. Their Indiegogo campaign didn’t make its goal, which is a bad thing: While upgrading to digital isn’t a big problem corporate chains like Regal, coming up with that amount of money can be a pretty significant challenge for indie theaters.
Undaunted by the fact that their crowdfunding campaign didn’t get them all the money they needed, the Academy’s throwing a “digital conversion benefit” this Sunday, Oct 27, from 6-9 pm. Called “The Show Must Go On,” its tickets are pretty steep—$55—but the night features performances from Tony Starlight and Post Five Theater, along with a whole bunch of other stuff, including cocktails, a fashion show, and food, beer, and booze from an impressive assemblage of the Academy’s pals in the Montavilla neighborhood, including Bipartisan Café, Country Cat, Flying Pie Pizzeria, Staccato Gelato, Ya Hala, Beer Bunker, Small Vineyards, and Vintage Cocktail Lounge. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to see an entire neighborhood demonstrate how important one of their businesses is—and the Academy has been a great thing for that stretch of SE Stark—well, here you go.
A huge part of what makes Portland a great place to live is the fact we have locally owned, independent theaters movies. Theaters like these are becoming increasingly rare—most places are lucky if they even have one, let alone ones like the Academy that also offer cheap tickets and great pizza and beer. Places like these are worth supporting. If you can—and if you like living in Portland and you like movies—help out the Academy. Tickets for this weekend’s event, along with more details, are at academytheaterpdx.com.
