Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
10:34 am Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Visible signs of opera house renovations coming soon

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
July 14, 2004
Just because there's not a lot of action on the outside doesn't mean there isn't a flurry of activity going on inside.
That lesson is especially true when talking about renovation of the Grand Opera House and its adjoining Marks-Rothenberg and Newberry buildings in downtown Meridian.
Dennis Sankovich, executive director of the Riley Education and Performing Arts Center, which the buildings will house when renovation is complete, updated Meridian Civitan Club members on the project Tuesday.
Sankovich showed photographs of a bulldozer working in the first-floor interior of the Marks-Rothenberg building after flooring was removed and the support columns were being reinforced.
Renovated as it appeared in its prime, around the turn of the 20th Century, the Grand Opera House will include a 1,000-seat venue and a 220-seat studio theater as part of the Riley Education and Performing Arts Center.
The center also will include conference areas and will house educational programs.
Owned by Mississippi State University, the $26 million renovation project is scheduled to be completed in 2005.
The Sankovich File
Dennis Sankovich became executive director of the Riley Education and Performing Arts Center in Meridian in March after serving as executive director of The Ritz
Theatre in Tiffin, Ohio, since 1988.
Sankovich has served as a board member and treasurer of the League of Historic American Theaters. He holds a bachelor's degree in performing arts management and a master's degree in public administration in nonprofit organization management from the University of Toledo.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025