FRACKVILLE - The movie theater at the Schuylkill Mall will be opening two new digital stadium theaters Friday and a large-format theater next week.
Mark Clement, theater manager, said Tuesday that while The Pearl Stadium 8 has two VIP luxury theaters - Theater 1 and 2 - that have been open since late last year, Phase 2 will soon be completed and includes two Dolby 7.1 all-digital theaters with stadium seating, known as Theater 3 and 4.
One of these is also 3-D-enabled.
On April 5, Pearl will be opening its Pearl Extreme Cinema, Theater 8, that is supposed to give an IMAX-like experience with a screen that's about 35 feet wide and 40 feet high.
"It's our own design of an IMAX," Clement said. "Everyone's doing their own format of a large-format screen. We're upping the sound package."
Clement said the sound system includes surround sound speakers all around the room, four large subwoofers and special speakers behind the screen.
"It's going to be about 20,000 watts, so it's going to move, shake and it's going to rock," he said. "It's going to be pretty impressive."
There will be special seats in the PXC theater that will be red leather, high-back rockers with the PXC logo on them. They are expected to be installed April 2 and 3.
"It's going to be our premier theater," Clement said. "We're very excited about bringing this large-format theater to this community. It's going to be something very special."
The PXC theater will open April 5 for Jurassic Park 3-D, the 1993 classic that is being re-released for its 20th anniversary for one week on IMAX screens.
Also opening Friday will be the new restrooms and the new entrance to the rest of the complex.
The Screening Room, a bar and restaurant capable of seating 50 people that's set off from the VIP theater, is expected to open in April.
Clement said that the theater is trying to get the restaurant end opened first and is still working on the liquor license.
Once The Screening Room is fully open, patrons 21 and over will be able to have a drink of beer, wine or hard liquor in the designated area and can take food from the restaurant into the theater.
Once Theater 8 opens, the next phase in the renovation process will be the three remaining theaters. Clement said it takes about three weeks to renovate a theater.
The majority of the renovations have been all-new construction, especially with the risers in the PXC theater that has brought it up and over the old projection room, and also the new concession area and bar and restaurant.
"The bottom line is that this area is getting something that's state-of-the-art, top-of-the-line," Clement said. "We've got all the bells and whistles that any megaplex would have and more, and it's right here in Frackville."
