After 11 months of operation, the Old Greenbelt Theatre is operating at a small profit and is not dependent upon city funding for operating expenses, although the city provides some transition funds for other expenses. Executive Director Caitlin McGrath sat down with the Greenbelt City Council and City Manager Michael McLaughlin on April 13 for the first of what should be an annual review. The Friends of the Greenbelt Theatre (FOGT) has a 3-year contract with the city to operate the theater. McGrath, council and the city manager all expressed pleasure with how things are going with a general sense that the theater operations are exceeding initial expectations, although challenges still remain. Since the theater reopened it is averaging more than $3,700 per week in gross revenue. It has shown roughly 50 first-run films, not holding any for more than three weeks. To make better use of its single screen, it generally shows two films each week, plus any specialty showings such as family, cult classics, film noir and 35-mm archival films. In addition, roughly 4,000 patrons have attended free community events at the theater. Read more in the paper by clicking here.
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