Normal Theater will be used as lecture hall

Posted on January 6, 2015

Students will be learning at the Normal Theater.  (WJBC File Photo)

By Terry James

NORMAL – The Normal Theater will continue to be used as a lecture hall by Illinois State University. 

The Town Council has approved an agreement that would allow the university to use the theater during the spring semester.  University spokesman Eric Jome said Capen Auditorium at Edwards Hall is being renovated.  The theater was used during past renovations at ISU.

"Several years ago when we were renovating Shroeder hall, which is one of our big classroom areas that has a couple of big lecture halls in there, that building was off line so we worked with the town of normal to use the Normal theater as a classroom space," says Jome. "It is a nice large lecture hall."

ISU will pay the town of Normal $27,000 for the use of the theater. Capen Auditorium should be back open to students this fall.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…