The Orpheum Theater in Sioux Falls has gone through its fair share of renovations over the years, all in hopes of bringing the nearly century-old building further into the 21st century.
 
It's newest project, a city-funded $340,000 restoration, is setting the stage to do just that. 
 
The only cast of characters that can be found in the Orpheum Theater are construction crews.

"We've built up a pretty solid event base of over 220 days a year. Now it makes sense to start working on the aesthetics to make it a more pleasant place to begin," SMG Assistant General Manager Terry Torkildson said.

The curtains are closed for the next three months, while its newest act to restore the building begins.

One of the more noticeable improvements will be in the seating. The current seats were out-of-date and falling apart.

These 30-year-old chairs will be replaced, the walls will get a fresh coat of paint, and new carpeting will be laid down. Torkildson says the improvements are needed to maintain the building, and to keep the experience authentic.

"It's a historic building, we're trying to keep up with what would've been there originally," Torkildson said.

Which Torkildson says will improve the downtown area in the process.

"The Orpheum Theater has been a definite player in that, where it brings people to this end of downtown," Torkildson said.

And all while making this historic building the center stage for entertainment.

The project should be finished by mid-September. And more projects are already in place for next year.