State Theatre in Eau Claire is gearing up for new possibilities

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – It's been six years since the State Theatre in downtown Eau Claire held its final curtain call. Now, the building is gaining a new life through the dedication of local artists wanting to see the facility used.

There were a few factors leading to the closure of the theatre. Some of them were building issues. The boiler was broken, there were some issues with pipes and the roof was leaking. Now, some of those problems are fixed and the possibilities for the theatre are growing.

Jenay Barstad is the Event Coordinator and Creative Director of the State Theatre and says, right now, the idea isn't necessarily to bring performances back to the theatre. The goal is to use the space as a venue for whoever can benefit from it, "I think there are a lot of talented artists in this community and I think if there is another door that's open to create art, to share ideas. To inspire and be inspired by the community, I think we need to walk through it."

While some of the building issues for the state theatre have been fixed, there's still other work that needs to be done. Theres a leak in the roof and the front of the stage is unstable but despite that, those involved are optimistic with the opportunities the theatre has to offer.