Uptown! Entertainment Alliance Closes on Purchase of the Old Armory in West Chester

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Members of the Uptown! Entertainment Alliance in front of the old National Guard Armory building in West Chester.--photo via mainlinemedianews.com
At the closing, from left to right: Jeannie McGinn, Holly Brown, Jimmy Jefferies, Roy Smith, Betsy Neidziejko, Richard May, Helen Mountain, Tom McEvoy, Marilyn Parsons, Brian Nagle.
At the closing, from left to right: Jeannie McGinn, Holly Brown, Jimmy Jefferies, Roy Smith, Betsy Neidziejko, Richard May, Helen Mountain, Tom McEvoy, Marilyn Parsons, Brian Nagle.

The doors of West Chester’s historic National Guard Armory building have finally been thrown open to new ownership. The five-year journey of finding a place for Uptown! Entertainment Alliance’s coming theater ended Friday when the volunteer nonprofit organization closed on the purchase of the armory from the state of Pennsylvania.

The stage is now set for a renovation and grand reopening next year on the building’s 100th anniversary. Uptown has already lined up Homsey Architects to design the performance hall, Bancroft Construction to manage the project and Clair Solutions to design the stage, screen lighting and audio systems.  

The effort, which has raised more than half of the $3.75 million needed to open the curtains, aims to transform the armory into a cultural hub for individuals and families within walking distance from the borough’s lively restaurant, pub and shopping district.

“Once the renovation is complete, the (still un-named) armory theater will serve as a permanent presence for our community to enjoy the performing arts for generations to come,” Uptown! Entertainment wrote in announcing the news. “Many older West Chester citizens fondly recall the old Warner Theatre on High Street. Now, we all have the unique opportunity to help bring a theater back to West Chester. No donation is too small.”

The Armory will house the Resident Theatre Company, a professional theatre company that will produce musicals and plays in the borough. Their first production will be “Spamalot” in 2016.

“The West Chester Community is richer today with the purchase of the armory and the planned conversion to a performing arts venue”, said Richard May, a managing partner of Uptown! Entertainment, when reached for comment.

Uptown previously secured a purchase agreement with the state and zoning approval from the West Chester Borough Council. Read more about that journey in previous VISTA Today coverage here.

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