Our progress so far

2024

This year celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Liberty and things are really happening. The renovation plans were finalized with OTJ Architects and construction work is beginning.

The “Annex” which was added onto the theatre in the late 1980s/early 1990s contains the only ADA-compliant entrance the theatre and also the theatre’s restrooms. Therefore the Association has decided to begin renovations with the Annex in order to get a viable part of the theatre reopened as soon as possible which can continue operation while the auditorium and lobby are under construction. Plans include completely refreshed restrooms, new tile flooring, a bar, catering prep area, a newly enclosed section with windows overlooking the courtyard and Park Avenue, and more.

The Association has also been working with the City to incorporate new curb work, accessibility and parking near the Annex entrance.

The marquee was completely restored with new plumbing, electrical, roof and ceiling tiles.

2023

The Association continued its efforts to keep the theatre dry and mold-free while laying the groundwork for future work. The old HVAC cooling tower in the alley behind the Liberty was torn down and utility services worked to move utility lines and poles in the alley to make way for future construction of a new back of house addition to the theatre.

The State of Louisiana officially designated the Liberty Theatre as the “Center for Louisiana Culture and Folklife.”

The Association worked with the State Office of Historic Preservation to choose replacements for the failing windows on the south face of the theatre. Once satisfactory replacement models were chosen, the Association had all 14 windows replaced. The exterior doors on the south wall were also restored and repainted.

The pump room which operates the theatre sprinkler system was completely overhauled with new equipment to ensure years of safe and reliable operation.

2022

The Association applied for Capital Outlay from the State of Louisiana in the amount of $930,000. $680,000 of this was deferred to the Priority 5 category for consideration later in the fiscal year, but $187,500 ($250,000 less a 25% match from the Association) plus an additional $50,000 in cash was awarded.

OTJ was contracted or retained to begin Phase 1: Space Planning and Schematic Design. Space Planning builds on the Feasibility Study bubble diagrams to further define the project’s requirements and develop the final layout. The Schematic Designs phase insures a solid start to the project through clarity of overall project direction and differences between current and previous paths. It involves establishing and quantifying basic design parameters for the project and providing materials appropriate for use in evaluating the project and discussing it with external parties.

Version 1.0 of eunicelibertytheatre.org launched to provide an online home for information and progress updates on the renovation of the Liberty Center.

The OTJ Architectural firm based in Washington DC – known for their expertise in historical theatre restoration – produced a feasibility study that provides an in-depth preliminary assessment of current needs and conditions of the historic Liberty structure. The study also proposes a series of renovations to the site to support our vision of creating an experiential destination known locally, regionally, and worldwide for celebrating Louisiana’s dynamic heritage and being a crossroads for the cultural roots of humankind.

2021

The Liberty project was awarded a Main Street grant of $55,000 to conduct repairs on the exterior of the building, including brickwork, downspouts, rooftop scuppers, and marquee preservation.

Due to the efforts of the Association, Congressman Mike Johnson, the National Park Service, and the City of Eunice, the Save the Liberty bill was composed. The Save the Liberty Act has been the subject of hearings in the House Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It was received very well in both of those hearings. The next step is for each of those committees to “mark up” the bill—this gives the committee members the opportunity to make changes to the text of the bill, although we do not expect any changes to be made. After that, the bill will pass through the committee and will await consideration on the House floor and the Senate floor.

The project was awarded $500,000 by the St. Landry Parish President and Council, with funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act 2021. The Association for the Liberty Theatre of Eunice, will receive $250,000 in fiscal year 2021 and the additional $250,000 in 2022, which will be used to fund the restoration of the historic Liberty Theatre located in Eunice, Louisiana. The City of Eunice promises to match this $500,000 for a total of $1 million towards the renovations.

During the 2021 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, Senator Heather Cloud sponsored SB80 to Amend R.S. 47:332.20(B) on behalf of ALTe: Prior law allocated the avails of the two percent levy of state sales tax on room rentals in St. Landry Parish exclusively to renovation, repair, reconstruction, maintenance, or bond repayment for:

1. Preservation of the Old City Hall - City Market in Opelousas

2. Operations of the Delta Grand Theatre in Opelousas

3. Any other tourism related activities in St. Landry Parish

The new law adds the operations, upgrades, and maintenance of City of Opelousas Parks and Recreation (Amendment sponsored by Rep. Dustin Miller) and improvement, preservation, and operation of the Liberty Theatre in Eunice to the list of authorized uses for the avails of this tax. The bill as amended was signed by the governor and became effective as of June 14, 2021. Now known as Act No. 284.

The Association also received grants from the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

2020

The Association hired Phillip LaFargue, a Baton Rouge-based strategy consultant to develop a comprehensive strategic plan, setting the vision and mission for the theatre, and creating plans to guide the Association actions through a successful renovation and re-opening.

The Association for the Liberty Theatre of Eunice received $100,000 from a private donor to jumpstart the project.