Month-long celebration to feature regional talent, 26 movies, open house tours, first-run movie
WABASH, Ind.—The Eagles Theatre under the direction of the Honeywell Foundation celebrated its first concert featuring Wabash’s own Crystal Gayle on Saturday, Feb. 29. Gayle’s first performance sold out to the public in a matter of minutes, resulting in an added performance by the singer on Sunday, March 1. The Sunday evening performance sold out the day of the show, following a film showing of “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” featuring Art Direction by Wabash native and Academy Award nominee John W. Corso.
Prior to the Saturday evening performance, Honeywell Foundation President/CEO Tod Minnich, the City of Wabash Mayor Scott Long, and Honeywell Foundation Board Chair Howard Halderman spoke about the Eagles Theatre Renovation Project and March’s month-long celebration schedule.
“For the Honeywell Foundation, this renovation project has always been more than the building. We love this building but we love what happens in this building more,” said Minnich. “The celebration of Eagles doesn’t end in March. We’ll be adding events and activities throughout the year to use this facility. Five floors of vibrant activity will happen here seven days a week.”
The Eagles Theatre month-long celebration schedule features seven live performances, 26 movies, an evening of open-house tours, and the launch of first-run movies on Friday, March 27 with Disney and Niki Caro’s live-action “Mulan.”
“This building is full of memories for many in the community…[and] those types of memories are going to be made now for future generations thanks to this renovation for all the kids in Wabash,” said Mayor Long.
The renovation was made into a reality starting with the Stellar Communities Program in 2014 when Wabash was one of two Indiana cities named Stellar Communities Designees.
“This is a historic event for downtown Wabash—to redo, renovate, and make a space like we’ve created here is just simply amazing to me,” said Halderman. “This Eagles project is what I could call a community effort. The Honeywell Foundation owns the property but [the renovation] was a community-wide effort that required many to join hands to make happen.”
Gayle was presented with a restored and framed tin ceiling tile of the original Eagles Theatre ceiling, adorned with a commemoration plaque, mid-performance on Saturday by Minnich and Honeywell Foundation Vice President of Development and Marketing Cathy Gatchel.
“We are so fortunate. When we were thinking of who would be the perfect artist to open up this theatre, [we thought] how wonderful for our community that we have Crystal Gayle,” said Gatchel. “Not only did Crystal make time for this and worked around her own schedule to make this work, Crystal also donated her time, which was just a wonderful gift to our community.”
Following the Saturday evening performance, Crystal was greeted by members of the community, including both fans and friends who thanked her for performing at the 114-year-old theatre.
“It is such an honor to be here opening up this theatre,” said Gayle. “Wabash [holds] a very special place in my heart and I have so many friends [and family] here. I know I went to school with half the audience.”
The March celebration schedule continues with a film showing of “Loud-Krazy-Love” and a Q&A session with Brian “Head” Welch of Korn and his daughter Jennea on Thursday, March 5, free public open house tours with a film showing of “The Wizard of Oz” on Friday, March 6, and a concert with Addison Agen, Fort Wayne native and Season 13 runner-up of NBC’s “The Voice” on Saturday, March 7.
For more information about the Eagles Theatre month-long celebration, schedule, and more visit EaglesTheatre.com or call the box office at 260.563.3272. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @EaglesTheatre for live updates and events postings.
For all interviews and media inquiries, contact Morgan Ellis at mellis@honeywellfoundation.org or by calling 260.274.1429.
About the Honeywell Foundation
The Honeywell Foundation is a public charity in Wabash, Indiana. The organization and its venues – Honeywell Center, Honeywell House, Charley Creek Gardens, Dr. Ford Historic Home, Eagles Theatre, and 13-24 Drive In – provide artistic, social, cultural, and recreational opportunities for all. These artistic offering are made possible by the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and by our generous donors. For more information about The Honeywell Foundation, please visit HoneywellFoundation.org.