The title page from the local short film documentary ‘Saving our Theatre” Which is set to premiere on Screen 10 at Thomas Theater in Marquette. The 22-minute film features the Vista Theater, the Keweenaw Storytelling Center, the Marquette Masonic Theater and the Peter White Public Library. (Photo courtesy of Dan Korhonen)

NEGAUNEE — Hard work helped Dan Korhonen turn a hobby into realizing a dream. It started with “The Iron Town,” a short documentary film about his hometown, the city of Negaunee, in 2022.

Korhonen, who says he has always been community-minded, works for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as an electronics technician for the fish hatcheries in the DNR’s northern region.

“I decided to take it more seriously after I attended the Fresh Coast Film Festival and saw that there was a place for local documentaries in that type of environment.”

He said the making of his first film, entitled “The Irontown” encouraged him to make another local-interest documentary.

When he was looking for ideas, Korhonen leaned on some of his own personal experiences, and that’s where he came up with the idea for “Saving our Theatre”

“You know, I am from Negaunee, so I grew up in the town and I was involved a little bit with the Vista Theater, my sister was, too – more so than I was. But I was in a play there and did sound for a couple and I met Marty Achatz,” Korhonen said. “I had been talking to Marty and he’s involved with several different groups. I saw that the situation that the Vista is in with their roof, and they are kind of at a critical stage in their history. So, it was a good time to do something to, I guess, raise awareness.”

Korhonen, who is on the board of directors for both the the Masonic Arts Theatre Innovation Company in Marquette and Connect Marquette, said he’s always looking for ways to give back to his community.

The Masonic Theatre and the Keweenaw Storytelling Center in Calumet are the other two theatres featured as well as the Peter White Public Library in Marquette.

“The reason that those were chosen is I was interested in the fact that most of the small towns around here have historic theaters in them, and why is that? What’s the history of it? You know, I decided to focus this project about right where I’m from, the Vista and the Masonic.”

He said the Keweenaw Storytelling Center was added because it also had a collapsed roof at one time, and had moved forward from it, he said.

“Saving our Theatre” made its television debut on PBS on April 2, and will premiere on the big screen at the Thomas Theater in Marquette at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 20. Admission will be free, but donations to benefit the Vista Theater will be welcomed.

“We really appreciate all the hard work Dan has put into this project,” said Vista Board President Rusty Bowers. “The board also wants to thank the Thomas Theater Group for allowing film to premiere there. We have raised a lot of money via smaller donations, and managed raise over $100,000 that way. We hope this film will show the community that we are still invested, but we need help.”

Korhonen said collaboration seems to be the key for local theater groups to survive, not just the collaboration of volunteers, but also collaboration with local businesses, municipalities, other theater groups and grant writers.

“I really don’t want to see the Vista Theater torn down,” he said. “It’s not done yet. This is just grabbing a snapshot of this moment in time. And also for MATI, because that building is also for sale and depending on who purchases it, we could be in a position where we could lose that theater space for the community.”

Korhonen said one of his goals with this project is to get more people interested in sustaining local theater.

“I would like to see more people involved with their local theater groups, whether it’s in Marquette or other towns” he said. “I would like the film to have a wide audience, that would be great. I think for the Vista Theater’s sake it would be great to get it in front of somebody…they are kind of at the point where they need at least one big donor to carry that project or take on that project. Film is a great way to tell that story, so people can relate to it. And it’s a good way to share it now, with all the social media. That was sort of a goal of the film is to let these groups tell their stories and facilitate the exposure of it.”

Matt Honold is the assistant producer for “Saving our Theatre.” A trailer for the film is available on Dan Korhonen’s Facebook page. More information about the premiere itself can be found on the ‘Saving our Theatre’ Documentary Film Premiere’ Facebook event page.

Rebecca Glotfelty of the Keweenaw Storytelling Center, Rusty Bowers, president of the Vista Theater board, Marty Achatz from the Peter White Public Library and Ryan Engle from the Masonic Center participate in interviews for the documentary film “Saving our Theatre,” which will premiere Thursday, April 20 at Thomas Theaters in Marquette. (Photos courtesy of Dan Korhonen)