Theater fanatic holds welcome party for auditorium benefactors

By CHRIS KELLY, Evening Sun Reporter, January 27, 2008

Cheese, wine, croissant anyone?
     Hanover native and theater fanatic Susan Bagot, 60, welcomed Hanover Theater owners David Leske, 39, and wife, Stacie Johnson-Leske, to the area Saturday afternoon at 303 York St., Hanover. She conveyed high hopes expressed by Eichelberger Performing Arts, ACTS of Kindness and Borough Council members.
     "I think what (David and Stacie) are doing is great," Bagot said.
     She said she recalls when the theater was the best place to go on a Saturday night.
     "The downtown area used to be a lively place for the arts in the '60s. With the theater being renovated, the area may be able to come back," she said.
     Bagot said she hopes area residents will be going to the theater like they used to.
     David and Stacie Leske, with their many years of experience in theater, hope to bring it back to the area.
     Stacie Johnson-Leske had started in the arts when she was a child studying ballet. She went to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Traverse City, Mich., at the age of 15. She stopped dancing, but stayed in the theater, concentrating on lighting design. She has worked for more than 15 years in theater and dance, according to the theater's Web site, www.hanovertheater.info. 
     David Leske has a degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University, but has been in the performing arts since childhood. He was an active member of his high school drama club and has been working in professional theater for more than 20 years.
     They plan to have the theater up and running by December 2008. Now, they have renovation to do.
     "The previous owners used it for storage, so we have a lot of moving to do," David Leske said.
     Debb Levy, development director for Eichelberger, said she thinks it's great the theater is being revamped.
     "I think it will really help out the community," she said.
     According to her, the area has so much to offer and is thrilled the theater will be opening soon.
     The Hanover Theater, according to its Web site, will offer more then just arts for the community. It will offer performance that appeal to all ages, work with local and national performing arts groups to bring new and creative ideas to their stage and offer hands-on training in theater arts through seminars and classes.
     "We plan to give the community what they want from the arts," Stacie Johnson-Leske said. "Whatever it is, tell us, and I am sure we can work it out."
     For more information about the Hanover Theater, visit www.hanovertheater.info. 

Contact Chris Kelly at ckelly@eveningsun.com.