NORWICH – Three months after the curtains reopened on the Colonia Theater in Norwich, new owners Richard and Todd Barnes are now ready to take the movie house into the digital age with its first showing on upgraded projectors scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday.

According to Richard Barnes, this is a huge step forward for the Colonia, which was forced to upgrade to all-digital equipment under new box office regulations put in place last year. “This includes digital picture, surround sound and the 3-D equipment,” he explained.

The Barnes brothers purchased digital equipment for one of the Colonia’s two operational theaters last month, personally footing the $75,000 bill that came with it. They are working with community partners to upgrade equipment in the second theater as well, which they plan to have installed in the coming weeks.

“We are working with the Arts Council to purchase the second projector,” Barnes explained, also noting the influence of the community to keep the projectors rolling. “We have received a lot of support from the community. The big thing is the community needs to know it’s their theater. We may hold the keys to the door, but it’s their theater.”

“The Chenango Arts Council recognizes the cultural value of film, and more importantly, the role the Colonia Theater has played in bringing film to Chenango County for nearly a century. We are delighted to announce that with generous support from the Greater Norwich Foundation and the Roger Follett Foundation, we have acquired digital equipment to ensure the Colonia’s legacy in our community going into its second century,” said Chenango Arts Council Board of Directors President Lisa Natoli. “We look forward to partnering with the Colonia to provide exciting and innovative arts programming, and offer our deepest thanks to the Barnes family, Greater Norwich Foundation and the Roger Follett Foundation for this gift to current and future generations.”