Scotta Magnelli continues at the helm of the Campus Theatre
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"The Campus Theatre of Lewisburg is the hub of our lovely historic downtown, and I'm so very proud to be here to see that it remains a wonderful place for folks to gather and experience film in a historic, Art Deco movie house," says Executive Director of the Campus Theatre Scotta Magnelli. Now in her third year, Magnelli is charged with shepherding one of the last single screen Art Deco movie palaces in the nation.
Magnelli's journey to the Campus Theatre began with a 25-year career as a graphic designer and corporate art director in Lancaster. Needing a change, she moved to Lewisburg in 2008 and opened her restaurant, Pronto! Provisions with Passion. During the restaurant's ten year operation, which Magnelli loved, she confesses, "What really caught my interest and passion was getting involved in the downtown." During that time, a group of merchants formed Merchants on Market, a group still together promoting Lewisburg's charms.
When Magnelli closed the restaurant in 2018, she was offered the Campus Theatre's executive directorship. Her responsibilities include programming films, creating graphics for marketing and advertising, managing staff and overseeing day-to-day operations. Magnelli says, "A large part of my job is community outreach and partnership."
The theater has faithfully served the community since it began showing films on January 7, 1941. For Laurie Slear, that date will always be a part of her family's history. Slear, who owns The Mercantile in Lewisburg, shares a beloved family story about her father, Harold Walker. "In 1941, as a young boy, my dad and friends watched The Campus Theatre being built from the ground up. They were so excited when it opened its doors for the first time, but it was the adults who got to go to the movies that first night, while the kids sat on the swimming pool wall across the street and watched them go in. But the next day the owners held a showing for the children in the afternoon, and made them all so happy." Slear also recalls her father describing how workers mixed glitter with concrete when laying sidewalks.
All these years later, the theater does much more than just screen films. For instance, through a collaboration with The CommUnity Zone and Lewisburg Downtown Partnership projects that have come to life include: The Mask-A-Rade on Market, a Halloween event conceived during the pandemic as a safe alternative to trick-or-treating; Lewisburg in Lights, an initiative to light up streets during the dark winter months and Live from Lewisburg, a live outdoor summer concert series. "Most recently, we produced our first Live from Lewisburg Variety Show, which was well-received," Magnelli says.
"Because we are a single-screen theater, we are typically required to wait up to six weeks to screen current films from the major studios," Magnelli says. She programs a variety of genres to appeal to the widest possible audience to include: Film series that coordinate with celebrations such as Black History month; documentaries; blockbusters; small, relevant indie films and family-friendly titles.
The theater also presents a free summer family series held on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. this summer, which will feature 11 children's films. In addition, a Movies by Moonlight series will be screened in Hufnagle Park this summer. Magnelli shares that "One film we always show is 'Jaws,' a perennial favorite."
Of her work as executive director, Magnelli says, "I am an artist at heart, so learning a new art form, in the way of film, has been very interesting and gratifying. Having come from a for-profit background, I've really enjoyed learning about the nonprofit world. I have a wonderful active and supportive board, and am grateful for that. I truly enjoy the collaboration with other Lewisburg individuals and organizations here."
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