Published: 10/14/2019 9:45:12 PM
Modified: 10/14/2019 9:45:08 PM
ATHOL — The “box office” is open for making reservations for the Downton Athol formal dinner where the star of the show is the historic Athol Town Hall Memorial Building.
The Nov. 2nd grand dinner party, at 7 p.m. sponsored by Athol’s Main Street Stage Company, has partnered with Debbie Allain-Thomas of Else Where who said reservation forms are available at her store at 1485 Main St., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The themed dinner party in the Memorial Hall building at 584 Main St. will be staged as Highclere Castle, the setting for the hit television series and movie “Downton Abbey.” Memorial Hall, which was built in the same Gilded Age as the show, will be “dressed” as the main character with a cast playing roles similar to the characters of Downton Abbey.
“This is actually focused on the physical aspect of the already grand Memorial Hall, our town’s gathering place,” said M.E. Kane, production studio artistic director for the Main Street Stage Company. “Not a lot of town halls have this level of character.”
She said this is entirely a volunteer community effort. “We’re taking the skills and knowledge of our fellow local collaborators in an event to celebrate Memorial Hall’s uniqueness.” The money that will be brought in from the event will be donated toward the hall’s revitalization, and she hopes the dinner party is just one of the many opportunities to bring more people into it on a regular basis.
Kane said what will be going on onstage at the dinner party is going to be more like an architectural blueprint of the future renovations.
“Downton Athol is Main Street Stage Company’s proof of concept event for future restoration work in our community to promote downtown revitalization,” Kane said. “The production process will help identify physical renovation improvements for the unique proscenium, full fly stage of Memorial Hall.”
Ticket prices are: VIP, $50 (VIPs will be announced by a title of their choosing or one will be created for them), dancing included, Dinner Guest, $35 per person, dancing included, and Dancing after 9 p.m., $15. Formal dress of the time period is encouraged.
For more information, contact M.E. Kane at msstsageco@gmail.com, or Debbie Allain-Thomas at 978-575-0057 or info@elsewearonline.com.