Polaris Theater/Port Orchard Historic Theater Fnd.

THANK YOU for supporting the Port Orchard theater renovation. 2025 marks the 101st birthday of this theatre building. As the oldest cinema house in Kitsap it has been known by many names the D&R, Plaza Twin Cinemas, Dragonfly and now The Polaris. We are grateful for donors who helped us make significant progress to date to restore/renovate this historic gathering space for arts, film, meetings, celebrations and more. Our 2025 Great Give request is for additional historical restoration to the theater's exterior. With a goal of $10K, we want to recreate the THEATRE mural (see photo), as well as painting the upper front of the building exterior and restoring historic elements. Additional funds may also be used to compensate local artists/musicians for free community events in 2025. 

Our current work has been to finish the renovation of the facade of the building. Recently we received a generous $50,000 grant through the Lowe’s Hometown Community Grant program. That grant allowed us to restore the front of the building, doors, ticket booth, etc. to as close as possible to the original front facade. This work is important in order to get an official 'Historic Theater' designation from  the WA Department of Archeology & Historic Preservation - we must restore the outside of the theater as close as possible to its original exterior.  In addition to the recent facade work, we have done interior demolition, transformed a weedy, dirt lot with dumpsters into an outdoor gathering + performance space- the Polaris Theater's Backstage Alley- which includes 1000 sq. feet of bricks, landscaping, lighting, planters + seating and a small stage.  Through donors and previous Great Give campaigns we have added a sound system, overhead sails, tables and chairs etc. In the past 18 months we have activated the Alley with many, VERY successful community events (see photos!).

As a champion of the Polaris Theater and community gathering spaces we ask you to support us again this year.  Current societal conversations clearly indicate a need for more of these “third spaces” where community can gather. We aim to provide a space for kids, teens, families and art, music and cinema lovers!

We have a big dream for South Kitsap, we believe the best days of Bay Street and downtown Port Orchard are ahead of us. We are awed and humbled at the community support the theater renovation project has received. This building has served our community with entertainment since 1924, we are committed to saving this theater - evolving the space to include live music, educational programming and community projects as well as film, welcoming everyone! Thank You for being part of that dream!