Spotlight on the Midland Theatre

The Midland Theatre in Newark, is one of the many Ohio theatres that has recently completed restoration. Originally built in 1928, the Midland completed an eight year $8.5 million capital campaign funded in large part by the Longaberger Family.

Compared to the Midland restoration effort, the Colony is a walk in the park. When the construction crews started the task of renovating the Midland, its roof was gone and the orchestra pit and lower part of the auditorium was filled with rainwater and debris. After getting the water out, they built a ramp down into the pit (An appropriate description at the time!), took a front loader down into the mess and started scooping the pit and then the auditorium.

The Midland opened September 14, 2002 and now presents a full range of programming. Upcoming entertainers include The Smothers Brothers, Rhythm in Shoes, Spyro Gyra, the Russian National Ballet, Art Garfunkel, Emmy Lou Harris and the County Basie Orchestra.