Port Theater Welcomes Public Back

The long awaited return of Corona del Mar's Port Theater has finally come. The public will be welcomed back inside on Friday, a theater official announced Monday.

Located on East Coast Highway and Heliotrope, the Port has been on a hiatus since 1998 and recently underwent a facelift. The public is invited to the theater's reopening on Friday.

“We now have a theatre again in CDM,” owner Fariborz Maseeh said in a released statement. “We hope the new Port will offer a unique experience for its patrons across the spectrum of all art and entertainment platforms.”

In April some community members got a sneak peek inside the theater when it hosted seminars and screenings during the Newport Beach Film Festival.

During its first week, the Port Theater has plans to show several films including Bernie, starring Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine, Safety Not Guaranteed which is the story of magazine reporters who respond to a cryptic classified ad and the documentary First Position which showcases the world's top ballet competition. Theater officials say patrons will be treated to the latest in digital projection and a quality assortment of snacks and drinks to enhance the movie experience. 

Maseeh descibes the new Port as, "a vibrant theatre will bring a new energy and vitality to its residential and business neighbors."

Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information on movies and times, visit http://portnewport.com. The web site is expected to be live by the end of the day.