How do you turn an abandoned movie theater into a multiuse artistic center? Especially when you’re in a town that’s been deprived of live music, theater and other performing arts for bordering on three decades – how do you go about making that happen?

Well, in a nutshell – you just go ahead and do it. And that’s what’s been happening in Dover-Foxcroft since 1998, when a group of community members got together the capital to purchase the Center Theatre, which had been closed since 1973. The effort to revitalize Dover-Foxcroft’s downtown area and provide some arts and culture to the region has been in full swing since 2000, with more than a million dollars raised so far.

In the past seven years, the facility has been completely gutted, with new wiring, heating, plumbing and seats installed, the stage expanded and a backstage area added, among other improvements. With the installation of the new marquee last December, volunteers are gearing up for the final stages of the renovation. They’ve already started in on what’s hopefully a new tradition: the Saturday Night in Dover-Foxcroft series, which features local and regional bands every third Saturday of the month.

“So far we have sold out all our shows,” said Patrick Myers, the theater’s newly hired executive director. “We’ve had 300-plus people walking around downtown. It’s great.”

For the first season of regular programming at the theater in more than 30 years, Myers and crew chose a wide variety of talent. At the first show, last July, the singing group the Memphis Belles and the Bell Hops brought their old-fashioned harmonizing to the stage. Since then, there’s been everything from a jazz night hosted by The Humble Farmer, the MPBN radio personality, to a comedy and music night with the Maine Hysterical Society. For the next show, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19, Blind Albert and the Blind Albert Blues Band will perform.

“We’re hoping to get a wide range of community members to come out,” said Myers. “We’ve had a slightly older crowd before, but we’ve got some really different kinds of music coming up and I think that’ll draw a different crowd.”

For Dec. 17, Don Campbell and his band will bring some country music to end the 2005 series. The theater will unofficially close for the winter and spring to finish up the renovations. Myers said the next Saturday Night series will kick off on June 17 with a performance from Gordon Bok.

The theater is available for rent for those interested in hosting their own shows, and Myers said he’s hoping to bring in some more local bands for more performances outside of the series. Judging by the reaction to this inaugural series of live music, southern Piscataquis County is more than ready for it.

“Part of our goal is just to get as many people in there as we can,” said Myers. “We want to expose as many people in the county to music and the arts as possible.”

Supporting acts

Local DJs will come together for another night of deep electronic music tonight at Ushuaia in Orono. Konfuzion will spin melodic trance from 10 to 11 p.m., Clarity will bring some progressive house to the scene from 11 p.m. to midnight, and DJ O’Shea will close out the night with a hard house set. There’s a $5 cover to get in, which isn’t a bad deal for the quality music you’ll be hearing. Also at Ushuaia, hardcore legends Hatebreed will roll into town on Wednesday, Nov. 23, for an all-ages show with Most Precious Blood and a whole mess of local acts. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 the day of, and doors open at 6 p.m.

The Center Theater is located on East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft. Tickets for all of the Saturday Night in Dover-Foxcroft series performances can be purchased at Mr. Paperback and the Moosehead Messenger in Dover-Foxcroft. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Emily Burnham can be reached at eburnham@bangordailynews.net.