Project Updates

This week, we touch on the latest from the $71 million project to restore the MIFA Victory Theater in Holyoke. What could this facility bring to the entertainment industry in western Massachusetts? We dig in and find out.

Victory segment starts at 00:22:30

The Reminder

By Trent Levakis

Jul 15, 2024

Hampden County, Holyoke, Local News

HOLYOKE — As progress continues on the rehabilitation project of the 1920 Broadway style Victory Theatre in downtown Holyoke, Reminder Publishing was invited by MIFA Executive Artistic Director Don Sanders for a tour of the building mid-renovation as excitement continues to loom over what is expected to be a huge cultural and tourist addition to the community.

Construction bid documents for the $71 million planned rehabilitation and reopening are expected to be finalized by the end of the summer.

Photo Credit: MIFA Executive Artistic Director Don Sanders stands in front of the Victory Theatre’s stage and orchestra pit amidst renovation of the space. Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis

🚨ACTION At The Victory Theatre🚨

Exciting developments have been happening at the Victory since our last update!

See all the progress completed so far:  https://conta.cc/3W3GO7U

Daily Hampshire Gazette

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Staff Writer

Published: 06-30-2024 3:00 PM



HOLYOKE — Construction bid documents for the $71 million planned rehabilitation and reopening of the 1920 Broadway-style Victory Theatre in downtown are expected to be finalized by the end of summer — a good sign for a project that many believe will be transformational for the region’s arts scene and serve as an economic catalyst for Holyoke: READ MORE

Photo Credit: Don Sanders, executive director of MIFA Victory Theatre, shows the Tiffany glass windows inside the Victory Theatre building. FOR THE GAZETTE/DAN LITTLE

MIFA Victory Theatre Executive Artistic Director Don Sanders, Victory Theatre Project Manager Susan Palmer, Matt Jacobs Barr & Barr Construction Manager, Brad Foster Accountant, Fleur Kuhta Administrative Assistant present to the Committee in response to community questions about the Victory Theatre Project.

Development and Government Relations Committee contact page: https://www.holyoke.org/dgr-cc/

Item 5: 2-6-24 From David Weinberg, communication regarding Victory Theater

Item 6: 6-4-24 MiFA response to Mr. Weinberg's letter and addendums

MIFA Victory Theatre Project Construction Team, architects Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels (DBVW), and project construction team Barr & Barr have devised a strategy for the next steps in the Victory Theatre restoration and set forth a plan of action. Here is what has been completed so far:

Drone Photos by Odeh Engineers

Construction Team:

DBVW/ Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects

Barr & Barr

Rivet Roofing

Ryan LLC

Odhe Engineering

Barbara Sokoloff Associates

Newsletter April 26, 2024: https://conta.cc/3QlGE8z

Newsletter December 8, 2023: https://conta.cc/3Rz0DBv

Newsletter November 14, 2023: https://conta.cc/49M9dUS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

​

THE RESTORATION IS COMPLETE

THE VICTORY THEATRE MURALS ARE IN HOLYOKE

HOLYOKE, MA - MIFA Victory Theatre is excited to announce the Victory Theatre’s historic murals restoration project is complete. Expert restorationists Evergreene Architectural Arts of New York City fully restored the two 23-foot-tall Vincent Maragliotti WPA murals on April 8, 2024. Evergreen’s team moved the murals back to Holyoke masterfully implementing and overseeing their protective storage where they will await reinstallation.  The mural's completion is a key step in bringing us closer to a reopened theater.  A future public exhibition of the completed murals is in development, stay tuned. 

“What a wonderful achievement for MIFA and the City of Holyoke. A significant piece of the city’s history has been preserved for future generations. The mural restoration represents a terrific cooperation between MIFA and the Community Preservation Act Committee, among other donors, and a special shoutout should go to Kip Foley and Meagan Magrath (CPA Committee Chairs), and their committees, and to Michael J. Sullivan for making this happen.” 

-  Don Sanders, MIFA Executive Artistic Director

Full Press Release here: Restoration Complete

____________________________

Press coverage:

Historic murals restored at Victory Theatre in Holyoke

By SCOTT MERZBACH, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Published: 04-19-2024 3:17 PM

Restoration of Victory Theatre murals complete

by Trent Levakis | May 7, 2024 | Hampden County, Holyoke, Local News, The Reminder

"HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - This month marks Holyoke’s 150th year anniversary. The city celebrated Saturday by hosting the 3rd annual Doors Open Holyoke event. It began this morning around 9 a.m. and wrapped up at noon.

Doors Open invites the community to see behind the doors of places not usually open to the public.

It connects residents to local places of historical, cultural, and architectural significance. This year, some of the locations included in this event were the Victory Theatre, H.H. Richardson Station, the Holyoke Fire Department, and more." - Copyright 2023. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.

Long-time MIFA supporters John and Elizabeth Armstrong recently pledged a

$1 Million Dollar Gift to the Victory Theatre Project!

"The generosity the Armstrongs have shown MIFA Victory Theatre is beyond words. They bestow such uplifting support for the arts in our community, and MIFA is lucky to call them friends." - Donald Sanders

On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, a summer soirée was held at the home of MIFA friends Betsy and Bruce McInnis in honor of MIFA Victory Theatre.

Photos by Don Treeger / The Republican 3/8/2023

This muralist lifted Holyoke’s spirits during World War II; the fight today is to bring his works back to life, By Dennis Hohenberger | Special to The Republican, Updated: Mar. 10, 2023, 11:31 a.m. | Published: Mar. 08, 2023, 6:41 p.m., Masslive.com 

PRESS RELEASE