By Kat Bryant

Grays Harbor News Group

Hoquiam’s historic 7th Street Theatre is preparing to reopen next weekend (on a limited basis) to screen “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.”

The 993-seat theater will have 248 seats available, based on the state’s current health guideline of 25% capacity. The film will be screened at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday.

All volunteers will be wearing masks and gloves. The ticket sales booth is already well separated from the clientele with glass, and a folding table has been placed in front of the concession counter to ensure proper distancing.

In addition, the air filters are being changed out and all “common touch” surfaces will be wiped or sprayed with disinfectant between showings.

“We’re trying to make it as safe as possible so that when you come to enjoy the movie, you’re not feeling you’re endangering yourself or anyone else,” said theater manager Jamie Brand.

Once inside, people will be asked to use the right-side ramp to enter the theater and find a cluster of seats appropriate to their family’s size. Sets of between two and six have been taped off with plenty of spacing between groups, and volunteers will be there to help people find seats.

The tape is a little flimsy, but it does the job, said Brand. “I got the super gentle stuff so it wouldn’t harm the wood,” she said.

The left-side ramp will be used to allow proper spacing between people in line for concessions. Only one person from each group will be allowed in that line, so it would be a good idea to designate that individual and make sure they know what everyone wants before entering the theater.

Anyone who can’t wear a mask but wishes to see the film will be escorted inside through a side door and directed to the front of the theater,. The first three rows have been designated for those individuals so they won’t “exhale all over other people,” she said. “I thought it was better to give people options.”

After the movie, patrons will be asked to exit through the J Street side door, where they can chat outside if they wish to.

Unlike last year’s showing of the original “Star Wars” film, because of the current health guidelines, there will be no major displays that would encourage milling about in the lobby.

“We just want people to be able to see the movie,” said Brand. “And even if we can’t run up and hug each other because we haven’t seen each other in six months, we still want to be able to see each other.”

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If all goes well, the theater will resume its previously set 2020 schedule starting with “The Graduate” Sept. 5-6. After that:

“Ring of Fire,” Sept. 18-19

“Dial M for Murder,” Oct. 3-4

“Shrek,” Oct. 30-31

“The Guns of Navarone,” Nov. 7-8

“The Polar Express,” Nov. 27-28

“A Christmas Story,” Dec. 5

“Christmas in Connecticut,” Dec. 19-20

For details and updates, follow the 7th Street Theatre on Facebook.