Big changes coming to Rogers as repairs ramp up; Fundraiser to be held next week

Rodgers Theatre Inc., the organization working to restore the Historic Rodgers Theatre in downtown Poplar Bluff, will hold its annual fundraising banquet next week.

The “Roaring ‘20s at the Rodgers” event, board president Wally Duncan said, will take place Thursday at the Black River Coliseum.

“It should be a good evening. This is our big fundraiser for the year, so we really encourage people to come on out,” Duncan said.

A social hour will kick off the event at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner at 7, Duncan said.

Karon Campbell’s Tasteful Creations will cater the event.

“We will have raffles and both live and silent auctions,” Duncan said.

The event also will feature live entertainment, Duncan noted.

“I don’t know if they have a name, but it’s Kirk Mondy, James Todd, Pam Becker and Sherry Dawe who are going to be performing,” he said.

Given the event’s theme, Duncan said, period clothing is encouraged for those who want to wear it, but it is not necessary.

Tickets to the banquet, Duncan said, cost $30 per person in advance or $40 at the door.

Tickets can be picked up at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, Duncan’s law office on Northwood Drive, Southern Care & Comfort or by calling a Rodgers Theatre Inc. board member.

In the past, Duncan said, the banquet has seen upward of 300 attendees, but he doesn’t believe this year’s event, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will have that many.

“I honestly don’t believe we’ll have that this year,” Duncan said. “I’m hoping for at least somewhere around 200.”

For people concerned about COVID, “we are going to be practicing social distancing, and we’ll have masks available,” Duncan said.

The banquet comes at a time when restoration work at the Rodgers Theatre is ramping up, and passersby should see changes in the coming days.

“We’re getting the tower put back together,” Duncan said, “and we are hoping here in the next few days or weeks to have it completed, with the letters back on and everything functional.”

The lighting for the outside of the building arrived last week, Duncan noted, and crews are “starting on the outside facade.”

The outside work will take a while, Duncan said, because crews are trying to fit the project between other jobs.

“I was hoping it would all be done before the banquet next week, but that’s not going to work out. At least people can see progress is being made,” Duncan said.