Milton Theatre unveils new balcony

After nearly a year of work, Milton Theatre formally unveiled its new balcony to the public April 11.

Theater Director Fred Munzert said, “I can’t believe it's finally here. I keep going up there and sitting during the week when no one is here, and just thinking it's so surreal that I’m sitting up in that balcony. I’m thrilled. I can’t wait for people to enjoy it.”

The balcony had existed in the 110-year old theater for much of its life before it was removed in the 2000s. In 2014, a group led by Munzert took over theater operations, and in 2018, plans were unveiled to restore the balcony and a capital campaign was kicked off. 

That campaign was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as the theater suspended operations. The theater resumed events in June 2020, and fundraising soon continued. Work began in spring 2022, and the theater remained open during construction.

The balcony adds about 114 seats to the theater, most of which are movie theater-style chairs, with the last row comprising a bar top with stools. The fundraising efforts included a seat campaign, so each seat bears the name of a project donor. 

“I think it's a great way for the community to celebrate and realize something that we all did together,” Munzert said.

The first event to utilize the balcony seats, held April 13, featured psychic medium Deanna Fitzpatrick. 

The balcony serves as phase 1 of a two-phase project to renovate the theater. Phase 2 will involve completely renovating the stage, and adding new bathrooms, a new lighting grid and artists’ areas including new rehearsal spaces. The intention is to make the theater more accessible and convenient for the artists while also adding space to allow for things like more children being able to take part in the annual summer camp shows. 

While that project is still in the future, Munzert was basking in the glow of having the balcony finally open to the public.

“No. 1, it’s a relief; I’m glad it’s done. It was a lot to do. Personally, it excites me to know that people are going to be enjoying it and be able to sit up there and see the shows in a different way. It’s remarkable that we were able to do it, and it speaks to 10 years of history. The community wants this here. People love being here and want to be a part of it,” he said.