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WILKES-BARRE — Last December, Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre held free showings of the 1946 film “It’s A Wonderful Life” as a way to test its screening capabilities. The 537 N. Main St. building Little Theatre calls home operated as a movie theater before its 1956 purchase and conversion to a stage theater but, according to Community Advisory Board member John Dawe, the building is still well-equipped to handle a night at the movies.

“The setup of the theater, the rigging of the theater, the equipment of the theater still remains,” Dawe said. “We obviously have updated some of the equipment for modern things with new projection and things like that.”

After the successful trial run, the Community Advisory Board, which helps Little Theatre create non-traditional funding opportunities outside its usual demographic, has curated its first film-based fundraising opportunity. Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre will host a movie marathon Saturday consisting of all four previously-released Marvel films featuring Captain America.

Doors open at 11:45 a.m. and the screening of “Captain America: The First Avenger” starts at 12:15 p.m. Costume contests, trivia and food breaks will serve as intermissions, with a 9 p.m. screening of “Avengers: Age of Ultron” closing the event. There will be concessions, a cash bar, a visit from What The Fork food truck, game demos from Tactical Advantage games and all attendees will receive a voucher to see the latest Marvel film, “Captain America: Civil War,” at RC Movies 14 Wilkes-Barre when it releases May 5.

Tickets for the event are $25 and may be purchased at marvelwb.eventbrite.com, by phone at 570-408-1741 or at the door the day of the event.

According to Dawe, support from sponsors means almost all proceeds will support the building’s day-to-day operational costs. If this event goes well, Dawe expects similarly themed events will be held in the future for franchises like “Star Wars” and “Star Trek.”

All-day event benefits theatre’s day-to-day operations

By Gene Axton

[email protected]

Reach Gene Axton at 570-991-6121 or on Twitter @TLArts