A stretch of Salina Street is about to become brighter tonight with the unveiling of the Redhouse’s new $120,000 dollar digital marquee to “Light the Town Red.” The live performance venue relocated in 2018 to the former Sibley’s Department Store Building as part of City Center. Executive Director Franklin Fry says about 25,000 come to see their live theater performances annually. He hopes the audience base will grow with the new marquee.
“To finally have signage on Salina Street that clears up the question of, ‘Where is Red House?’ is huge and it will be the first new marquee on Salina Street in a century. So, it harkens back to the past while also setting up. No, this is about the renaissance of downtown Syracuse," he said. And how Red House is playing an active role in being one of the leaders of that by adding additional lights and additional vibrancy and additional activity to downtown Syracuse.”
Fry says other downtown landmarks will also light-up in red Tuesday night to coincide with the milestone. The new marquee is made possible through the vision of long-time Redhouse honorary member Bill Hider who began the project in 2014.
“And one thing I said then is pertinent today. I quoted the lyrics from a song we all know… “Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true,’” he said.
And as fate would have it, 5 hours before the marquee lighting, that song is a part of the youth summer camp production of The Wizard of Oz. That performance gets underway at 4 PM Tuesday afternoon. The Redhouse marquee lighting happens later at 9:15 pm sharp during a ticket only event. The venue is a supporter of WAER.
