Arts & Entertainment

Philanthropist Gives Theatre A Lift

No-interest loan combined with $5,000 donation by Joan Bruzzone will go toward new elevator for New Rheem Theatre, Moraga.

The New Rheem Theatre is on its way to be a multiple-screen cinema again.

The theatre's elevator fund got a "lift," in the pun perpetrated by Ellen Beans of the Moraga Citizens Network in an email. Local philanthropist Joan Bruzzone made a one-year, no interest loan to the California Independent Film Fest for $25,000, plus a donation of $5,000.

The theatre announced last month the upstairs screens would go dark because of an Americans with Disabilities Act claim against the theatre because the old stairside elevator was not functional. Citizens are still encouraged to contribute to the fund for a new elevator for the upstairs screens with the New Rheem Theatre's red-carpet Oscar party on Sunday, Feb. 24.

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