Page 15 - Vol46-No02-Summer-2023-inLeague

Restoring A Gem: Revitalizing Milwaukee’s
Oriental Theatre
In 2018, Milwaukee Film became the stewards of the
Oriental Theatre, located on Milwaukee’s east side. Having been
built in 1927, the cinema was in substantial need of updating and
renovations. To fund the renovations and build a reserve fund,
we raised $10M in a capital campaign. For the renovations, we
partnered with a local architecture firm (TKWA) and construction
firm (Altius) and organized the renovations into four phases, which
took place from 2018-2021. Phase one included the addition of
a women’s restroom, new projection and sound equipment, as
well as updating the plaster and roof repair. Phase two included
continued updating encompassing new seats, floor repair, and
a concession stand. Phase three included the renovation of the
main house and theater B. During Phase 3, COVID-19 impacted
construction, however the actual theater closed operations.
Phase four included two phases for the balcony and donor wall
renovations. The presentation will include historic as well as
current before/after photos. We will discuss the process, lessons
learned, and discoveries made along the way. We will also
touch on programming, and what we’re doing now to bring new
audiences to the venue.
Held in Chicago C, Ballroom Level. Sponsored by Custom Plaster,
LLC
Presenters: Petey Balestrieri, Cinema Manager, Oriental Theatre,
Milwaukee, WI and Kristen Heller, Chief Operating Officer,
Milwaukee Film, Milwaukee, WI
The Fun Begins Here: Humanizing Social
Media

In today’s digital age, social media has become an
integral part of any organization’s marketing strategy. However,
with so many brands vying for attention, it’s crucial to stand
out and connect with your audience on a more personal level.
This workshop offers a deep dive into the exciting world of
social media, providing marketing professionals at all levels with
creative strategies to make their online presence an enjoyable and
meaningful experience. Through a fun and interactive session, we
will discuss how to showcase your organization in an authentic
and impactful way, from promoting events, festivals, or artists
to leveraging social media platforms to expand your reach and
increase your impact. You’ll learn how to humanize your brand,
using a conversational tone to produce engagement, demystifying
products, and effectively telling stories that resonate with your
audience. The session will take you on a journey from content
creation to analyzing metrics, highlighting the steps needed to
make the most of your online presence. This workshop is designed
to help you discover the importance of knowing your brand or
organization and how to use social media to create a stronger
connection with your audience. In summary, this workshop
promises to be an informative and interactive experience that will
equip you with the tools to humanize your organization’s social
media experience, helping you to stand out and connect with your
audience in a more personal and impactful way.
Held in Empire A, Mezzanine Level. Sponsored by Custom Plaster, LLC
Presenters: Evan Goetz, Executive Director, Tybee Post Theater,
Tybee Island, GA and William Hamilton, Co-Owner, Hamilton
Creative
PAGE 12 | INLEAGUE League of Historic American Theatres 47th National Conference & Theatre Tour July 2023 INLEAGUE | PAGE 13