Alan Sheldon may have picked the perfect early birthday gift for his wife, Alice.
It was one that not only expresses the love he has for her — and the love they have shared for more than 50 years — but it’s one that can be enjoyed by many others for years to come.
After having discussions about donating money to the Sedona International Film Festival’s plan to expand the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, one day in late July the Sheldons turned that discussion into reality. As the couple drove past the theater, they stopped in around 5 p.m. and gladly informed SIFF Executive Director Patrick Schweiss that they were in.
The Sheldons, who have been part-time residents for 20 years and long-time supporters of the theatre and SIFF, said their donation came as a direct result of the faith they have in Schweiss and the SIFF board as they look toward the future.
“We’ve talked on and off for years to Patrick and some other board members about opportunities that would be special for the film festival and create a little legacy for our family and the community,” Alan said.
Unlike in the past discussions of expansions, this plan just sounded right and they felt comfortable in helping with the vision. They liked the fact that a new building was not being built — which may have put the nonprofit festival into debt.
Because of the amount of their donation, which they requested not be disclosed, along with it comes naming rights to the second theater, which is currently being built. The theatre will be named the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre
“This was just right for the film festival, for Sedona and for Alice, who in January turns 75,” Alan said. “It’s a very special present for a very special lady who has kept me on the straight and narrow for 54 years.”
When asked what it will be like getting to sit in a theatre donning her name, Alice paused for a second, let out a laugh and said, “It will be a little overwhelming.”
Alan agreed.
“It will definitely be an interesting experience,” he said. “It will be interesting to see how we react. Again, this is something we’re doing for our family and the community. When we’re no longer here and they drive by or happen to go to a movie, they can walk in and our grandson can say, ‘This is grandma’s theatre that she helped build.’”
For Alice, theatres and the stage hold a special place in her heart for several reasons. For more than 20 years she was a professional dancer in New York, specializing in modern dance. But her passion for theatres goes back even further.
“Growing up, my mother would take us to the movies all the time,” she said. “I think of the movies as a bit of a sanctuary. It’s my escape from the world. You can go in there and be encompassed by whatever art is up on the screen. It’s something I was brought up with and it’s something I still love to this day.”
To that, Alan added, “Patrick has done a great job with not only the film festival but here in the theatre he has brought in shows from London, Broadway, dance, ballet, opera. There’s not an alternative to that in this market. If Patrick wasn’t doing that, no one here would get to see the arts.”
Once the new theatre is complete, Schweiss said it will likely be branded as the Sedona Film Festival Theatres, which will include the existing Mary D. Fisher Theatre and the new Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. He said it may become the Sedona Cinema Arts Center but they want SIFF somewhere in the name.
The Overall Plan
Now that the permitting process through the city is complete, Schweiss said construction will take upwards of eight months, with some already having taken place. During construction, the current theatre will still be open to patrons and will also be used for the 10-day-long Sedona International Film Festival in late February. It will, however, be closed for a minimum of two weeks during construction of a new wall between the two theaters.
The new screen will not be available in time for SIFF, but Schweiss said they are excited to use it for the festival in the future.
The overall footprint of the current facility will not change. The administrative offices have now been moved to vacant office space across the courtyard.
When the theatre was built, they dug into ground to get the needed decline. For the new screen, the opposite will be done: The roof will be raised to a slight incline for seating.
Once complete, the new Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre will have 46 seats, while the current theatre will seat 99.
In addition to the new screen, SIFF plans to remodel the concession area with a new look and equipment. They will also use the outdoor courtyard to encourage people to come by for a glass of wine before a film.
A project like this does not come cheap, especially these days with construction costs being much higher than in the past. But thanks to a $1 million donation from a Sedona resident, who has asked that his name not be used, that got the ball rolling for the project. The donation was earmarked for future expansion of the theatre with no time limit added.
Schweiss said the donation allowed them to put a fundraising plan in place. The goal is a $2.25 million capital improvement campaign, which includes the $1 million. Construction and upgrades to be made within the next year are estimated at $1.75 million. The remaining $500,000 will be placed into an account to be used for future upgrades and improvements.
By making this donation, the Sheldons said they hope it will encourage others to do the same and with confidence.
“When you know there is a substantial foundation, you’re less likely to be afraid to donate,” Alice said.
To that, Schweiss said, “Foundation is a perfect word because people then say, ‘Hey, this is real and it’s going to happen.’ Their incredible contribution has allowed us to move the project forward even faster. It’s overwhelming to think how quickly this came together. Aside from their generosity, the Sheldons saw our vision, gave their input and helped make this a reality. Everything started falling into place when they said, ‘Yes, we’ll do this.’”
