BRATTLEBORO — On Saturday, Dec. 9, Latchis Arts will host Loud & Clear, a celebration of the Latchis's brand new, state-of-the-art cinema sound system and other improvements to the projection in the main theater. Admission is free, but donations are always welcome at the door.
The event starts at 5 p.m., with a reception including free popcorn, beer and wine for sale, a "before and after" presentation by Latchis Arts Board member Tony Bacon about the new technology, and a preview of other theater upgrade and re-design projects Latchis Arts has in the works.
There will also be tours and talks highlighting the history of the Latchis. Following that, they will host a special film screening at 7 p.m. of The Boy and the Heron, the newest animated feature from beloved Japanese director Hayao Miyazakito, to showcase their new sound system. The film is rated PG-13.
"The name of the event, 'Loud & Clear,' acknowledges that we've heard what Latchis patrons have been telling us - that the sound system and visual projection quality in the main theater needed improvement. We've heard you, loud and clear," Latchis Executive Director Jon Potter said in a news release. "Loud & Clear also celebrates the experience the new sound system delivers. The difference is remarkable."
The $40,000 project, funded in large part by Latchis Arts donors, was a saga all to itself. It took 18 months to take the project from drawing board to completion. Supply chain delays caused much of the delay, and preparing the theater for the installation work was a herculean task, says Potter.
Latchis staff had to complete more than 40 runs of cable from the projection booth in the back of the main theater balcony to points all around the theater, including backstage, up on ladders or squeezing through crawlspaces under the balcony. In all, it took more than 1.3 miles of cable, enough for a continuous run of cable from the Latchis Theatre to The Marina.
The new system went live in mid-October - in time to wow fans who came for the Taylor Swift movie. Final adjustments were completed in mid-November. In addition to the new sound system, the projector in the main theater has been outfitted with a powerful new bulb that greatly enhances the viewing experience.
For more information, visit latchis.com.
This The Arts item was submitted to The Commons.