Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

EVERETT — For 11 years, the Historic Everett Theatre Preservation Society has operated the 124-year-old theater on Colby Avenue.

But that appears likely to change after June, leaving the future of the theater group in question.

In 2014, the Historic Everett Theatre went into foreclosure. Brothers Curt and Craig Shriner saved it. Since then, the theater has come back to life, with a full schedule of international performers and shows.

The Historic Everett Theatre has been for sale since before the COVID-19 pandemic as Craig Shriner, the primary owner, has been looking to retire. On April 30, manager Curt Shriner learned the building had been sold to Johnny Phan, a Bellevue-based real estate agent with Skyline Properties, Inc. The sale is scheduled to close May 30.

The Historic Everett Theatre Preservation Society has three staff members and 30 volunteers.

The expected change in ownership leaves the future of the theater’s programming in doubt. Curt Shriner said Phan asked him to cancel all of the theater’s contracts.

“He pretty much wants to just open it up for rentals,” Curt Shriner said.

Many of the acts the theater hosts, such as some tribute bands and comedians, aren’t rentals. The theater also donates its space for city and community events.

“Anything I can do to help the community has been my goal,” Shriner said. “I don’t know if you’ll see that again with the new owner.”

Phan said the theater’s future operations will be “no different than what’s going on right now,” and he still plans on working with the city to host events.

Originally, a letter from Craig Shriner’s attorney indicated the nonprofit had to be out of the building by the end of May. But the theater had a number of important events scheduled for June, including a high school graduation, Sorticulture, pride events and a memorial service. So Phan allowed the group to stay until the end of June.

On June 28, the theater will host its last show under its current ownership: George Noory, host of the nationally syndicated radio show Coast to Coast AM.

It’ll be the fourth and last time the theater will host Noory since 2017, said the show’s producer Tom Danheiser.

“It was a very successful show, and we’ve been back ever since,” Danheiser said. “The theater itself has such a great vibe. It feels like so much history has gone on there.”

Right now, Phan said his priority is updating the building. All events in July and August are canceled while the facility undergoes renovations. Phan expects to update the roof, painting and carpeting and install air conditioning.

“It took us all by surprise that we would be shutting down for renovations this early,” said Mike Bishop, head of the theater group’s volunteers.

Phan said he was interested in buying the property because he loves the building.

“We love the theater, and we like what’s going on with the community. It’s a great opportunity for us to get involved,” he said. “The building has so much history, we want to keep the tradition going.”

If Phan decided to hire the preservation society back, all the volunteers would step right back in, Curt Shriner said. But Phan said he plans on starting a new nonprofit, under a different name, to take over the theater’s operations.

“We’ll invite people to join us, but we don’t know if our vision will meet theirs,” Phan said.

For fall programming, Curt Shriner may try to rent the theater back for some of the shows, he said, but it may be too expensive.

“Hopefully whatever (Phan) has planned makes it successful and it brings the people back because they really love it here.”

For many involved with the Historic Everett Theater, the building holds important memories.

Curt Shriner met his late wife Laura Shriner on the theater’s stage.

In 1998, they played husband and wife George and Mary in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Three years later, they got married on the same stage. After another 17 years, the theater hosted Laura Shriner’s celebration of life and, two years later, their 19-year-old granddaughter’s.

“The theater has a lot of memories, good and bad, for me,” Shriner said.

Laura Shriner’s favorite part about working at the theater was seeing the audience dance and sing during shows.

“She’d come into the production room with me, and we’d look out there and see that dance floor full, and she would just smile,” Curt Shriner said. “And I think that was what it was all about.”

Emma Wescott-Paterson grew up in the theater. When she was just 5 years old, she started handing out brochures with her great-grandmother and uncle. When she was older, she ran concessions. Now, she works at the box office. She said it’s her favorite place in the entire world.

“I graduated high school last year, and my first thought was, ‘I have to go to the theater and tell my people that I graduated,’” she said. “So I literally ran from from Angel of the Winds up here. Mind you, it’s pouring rain, right? I’m in this little white dress and Birkenstocks and my cap and gown running down the street.”

Wescott-Paterson said she doesn’t know if she’ll have a job after the renovations this summer.

“And if I do have a job at the end of this, do I want to still do it without Curt here?” she said. “It will not feel the same without him here because he is what this place is.”

Even under new ownership, Bishop said he’ll do everything he can to help the theater and continue Curt Shriner’s work.

“Curt has been so generous to the community,” Bishop said. “He’s been a pillar in the community of Everett over the years with the theater.”

Looking back at the past 11 years, Curt Shriner said he’s grateful for the community’s support. He’s proud of the preservation society’s work in revitalizing the historic space.

“One of the things that I’ve always believed in is, whenever you do something, leave it in better shape than you found it,” Curt Shriner said. “I think we did that.”

Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.