by Kate Langenburg

Created on: November 15, 2008

The Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg's most well-known and oldest venue, is undergoing some major changes as of late. The non-profit theater is undergoing a capital campaign to better the look of the theater, the quality of performances, and the overall concert experience. Renovations have started and will continue to be scheduled, as the theater is gaining more funding for them to happen.

The most obvious renovation can be seen right from Main Street. The Sherman Theater has decided to paint and restore the entire front faade of the building to make it look like it did in the 1920s when it first opened. They will install an added set of double doors to make for a more accessible entranceway to the venue and to better heat or cool the theater depending on the season.

The theater aims to remove the main signs on the building and replace them with a new over-hanging marquee to make it look more authentic. The hope is that this will not only provide shelter from unwanted weather, but also evoke feelings of a grand theater. Theater owner Rich Berkowitz admits that many people walk right by the Sherman Theater. He knows that the new design will make it stand out among the row of buildings it's situated in.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the new faade is the added box office. It will be a small box office that will be accessible from the street, giving patrons an easy option for ticket purchasing. This idea is very reminiscent of the theater style from the 1920s.

The theater will also add more balconies. According to the Sherman Theater's Ideas for the Future Campaign, the new mezzanine balconies would increase seating by up to 180 seats. Adding more seating would allow the Theater to schedule larger shows with bigger names. This would also support the cost of booking these acts. As of right now, the theater holds around 1,100 seats or provides room for 1,500 1,600 people standing.

The mezzanine balcony seats would also be removable, so that they could be arranged in different ways to better suit the audience for each show. For example, they can be put into cabaret-style seating, rows of chairs, or can accommodate groups by using dividers.

New pendant chandeliers will also be added to the mezzanine balconies, as well as more VIP boxes to give more patrons a chance to see the show from an optimal viewing point.

The theater also hopes to expand their space by purchasing one of the surrounding buildings on Main Street. With this added space, they will be able to move

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