Oriental Theatre reopens Friday under the Milwaukee Film banner in a soft launch

Chris Foran | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

After nearly six weeks of renovation work — and rediscovery — the Oriental Theatre will be back open for business Friday.

The 91-year-old east side movie palace, at 2230 N. Farwell Ave. will reopen in soft-launch mode, with two new movies opening in the theater's smaller theaters: the Spike Lee movie "BlacKkKlansman" and the fashion designer documentary "McQueen."

The Oriental's main theater — the one with all the Buddhas — will reopen Aug. 17.

Milwaukee Film, the operator of the Milwaukee Film Festival, began a 31-year lease of the Oriental on July 1. Since then, the organization has been working on the first phase of multimillion-dollar plan to revitalize the theater — starting with adding women's restrooms on the first floor and improving sound and projection in all three theaters.

Milwaukee Film Leases Oriental Theatre The Oriental Theatre, one of Milwaukee's most venerable cultural institutions, will be operated by one of Milwaukee's emerging cultural institutions.

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"This is a dream come true," said Jonathan Jackson, artistic and executive director of Milwaukee Film, of the "new" Oriental's debut.

But in some ways, the dream has been deferred. Because of a leak discovered in the roof, Jackson said, the plaster ceiling in the Oriental's main theater had 10 different spots that needed work to make sure no more plaster falls.

Sometime in early 2019, he said, Milwaukee Film intends to close down the main auditorium to completely restore the ceiling.

The new women's bathroom on the first floor, however, is ready now. It'll be the first time in decades that the Oriental will have a women's restroom on the first floor.

Ironically, work on the men's room on the first floor isn't done yet. (There is a unisex bathroom available.)

"It seems somewhat fitting that men will be forced to go to bathroom upstairs after women have had to do so for 90 years," Jackson said.

Once all three screens are open, Milwaukee Film will show a broader array of programming, as well as events such as hip-hop legend RZA performing a live re-scoring of the kung-fu classic "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin" (Aug. 25) and a theatrical premiere of "Betty White: The First Lady of Television," with Milwaukee filmmaker Steven J. Boettcher on hand for the screening (Aug. 18).

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"We want to create special events throughout the year, really give people a special experience they can't get anywhere else," Jackson said.

The programming will lead into this year's Milwaukee Film Festival, scheduled for Oct. 18-Nov. 1.

The film festival is being held later than in past years, Jackson said, in part to improve access to the biggest fall and winter releases, which the festival previously was barred from screening because of leasing arrangements.