EUNICE -- Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser pledged his assistance to help restore the Liberty Theatre in a tour on Wednesday.
Reviving the theater fits into Nungesser’s role as the chief tourism official in state government. He emphasized that role in addressing the Eunice Rotary Club before his tour of theater.
While COVID-19 precautions dampened tourism in the state, Nungesser expects a rebound. His office has promoted “staycations” before and during pandemic along with international tourism.
The Liberty Theatre once attracted visitors regionally and from across the world.
A news release from Nungesser’s office stated the theater is impacted in three areas by the Department of Culture Recreation & Tourism.
“It is located in the middle of the Eunice Main Street, which is funded under the Division of Historic Preservation. It also falls within the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area (ANHA), which just received a $10,000 grant from ANHA to develop a business plan to renew the Liberty Theatre as a center for culture, performance and community pride. And, it is listed the National Register of Historic Places, the United States federal government’s official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance,” the news release stated.
“Eunice and the Liberty is on the Zydeco Cajun Prairie Scenic Byway, another significant trail designated by the Office of Tourism and included in a number of sightseeing destinations on www.LouisianaTravel.com(link is external) website,” the news release stated.
Nungesser said he will have his staff be on the lookout for grants and other funding that could help the Liberty Theatre restoration.
Celeste Gomez, who introduced Nungesser at the Rotary Club meeting, explained the theater was first renovated in the 1980s,but by 2019 an air conditioner failure shut the shows down. The National Park Service decided it could not afford its share of the theater operation.
The Liberty Theatre is owned by the city, but the Park Service owns the annex where restrooms are located. Also, a portion of the building is owned privately and in is in the process of being renovated.
The city has partnered with The Association for the Liberty Theatre of Eunice, which is leading the theater renovation. The association’s Board includes Joel Savoy, Gomez, Laura Pitre, Pat Dossman, Charles Seale and Paul Feavel.
Feavel is an owner of the private side of the building.
Seale said a four-year plan is being developed and the cost may be about $2.5 million to bring the theater back to life.
U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson is seeking legislation to allow the Park service to transfer ownership of the annex to the city.
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Staff Report