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Arts & Entertainment

Emagine Royal Oak Makes Magic for Charities

The Judson Center and Gleaners Community Food Bank throw a charity bash at the brand-new entertainment complex.

“This is a Saturday night date you will not forget.” That’s what Marn G. Myers, president and CEO of the , told the large crowd at a sneak-peek, preopening charity night at the new Emagine Theatre in Royal Oak.

The facility received rave reviews Saturday night during the Night to Emagine event in the middle of a three-day benefit weekend preceding its official opening Monday.

This night was for Royal Oak’s Judson Center and the Gleaners Community Food Bank.

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Sally Costigan of Warren, who has volunteered for both of the nonprofit groups, said she grew up in the area and remembered when “there was an A&P right here."

“It’s overwhelming,” Costigan said about the new facility. “Emagine did a beautiful job. It’s very pretty.”

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Almost 500 people roamed the two stories of the entertainment complex Saturday night, enjoying disc jockeys and live bands, dining on everything from seafood to a mashed potato bar. They bowled, played pool and table shuffleboard, were pampered with chair massages and got psychic readings.

Many of the patrons topped off the evening by taking generous buckets of all-natural popcorn and relaxing in the luxurious theater seats to take in such first-run movies as Thor 3-D and Bridesmaids.

The spacious main floor area includes large concession and bar areas, along with the larger bowling alley.

Upstairs, in subdued lighting, a dance floor and a game area with four more bowling lanes offer a more intimate feel. In the mini-alley/game area, a group of Gleaners staff and donors bowled a few rounds.

Among them was Anne Schenk of Ferndale, the senior director of advancement at Gleaners. “This place is incredible," she said. "We just walked through here a week ago, and there was still fresh paint and the carpet had just been put down.”

Schenk praised Emagine Entertainment CEO Paul Glantz for the event. “Paul is a board member of Gleaners,” she said. “He wanted to focus on Royal Oak-related charities and other charities he cares about.”

Sean Defour, the chief operating officer of Judson Center, said, “More businesses should do this for nonprofits.”

Glantz spoke to his guests earlier in the evening, just before the official ribbon-cutting. “This is a delightful evening in this regard because it benefits Gleaners and the Judson Center. Both of them do enormous amounts of good in this community,” he said.

Myers told the crowd that Emagine was helping the center in its role of “lifting up children in our community, children who are hungry, fighting abuse, children making their way despite facing special needs.”

Jessica and Dean Rice came from Plymouth to support Gleaners Community Food Bank. Jessica is a second-grade teacher at a Detroit school that benefits from Gleaners’ help. “We’re here because it’s a wonderful cause. But this theater is different. We’ll be back,” she said.

Tara Tuomaala of Royal Oak said the facility “is awesome. This is something to bring the kids to. Or for us to come here for date night."

Tuomaala remarked on the idea that the Troy Street and 11 Mile Road area may be getting too crowded. “The parking structure (next door) has been underutilized," she said. "Besides, having a parking problem is a good thing for a city to have.

"This is a good addition to Royal Oak.”

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