Historic Liberty Theater Grand Opening Planned for Summer 2024

Dan McCabe’s Thigmotrope LLC has broken ground on the $4.75 million project on Walnut Street in Lawrenceburg.

Photo by Travis Thayer, Eagle Country 99.3.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Dan McCabe’s Thigmotrope LLC, in partnership with the City of Lawrenceburg Redevelopment Commission, has broken ground on renovating The Liberty Theater located at 229 Walnut Street in historic downtown Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

The $4.75 million-dollar project is funded through a public-private economic development partnership between the City of Lawrenceburg Redevelopment Commission and Dan McCabe’s Thigmotrope LLC. The project was awarded a $600,000 grant in early 2023 by SEI READI (Southeast Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative). Maxwell Construction is General Contractor for the project.

Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater Grand Opening is planned for Summer 2024.

Lawrenceburg Redevelopment Director Bryan Messmore shared “I certainly think a lot of organizations may be able to benefit from the revitalized landmark development site upon completion. We’re enthusiastic about the opportunity to bring visitors to our community to see the historic Liberty Theater fully activated in downtown Lawrenceburg. It’s a privilege to be a part of the legacy redevelopment project centered around the Liberty Theater.”

The Liberty Theater design plan adds to the theater space two autonomous storefront businesses: Stage Left Whiskey Bar and the Stage Right Kitchen. “This is a versatile room that can flip daily from live performance, to wedding receptions, to culinary events, to exhibitions, film, comedy and more. This is a lasting endeavor putting to work a dormant historic asset attracting new people and businesses to historic downtown Lawrenceburg for generations to come.” – Dan McCabe - Thigmotrope LLC, founder of Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater.

Cincinnati architect firm Drawing Dept was selected to activate the historic property with a focus on versatile usage for long-term business viability. The Drawing Dept’s experience designing unique spaces in historic downtown buildings informed a full range of creativity while preserving an authentic look and feel of the 130-year-old structure. “Revitalizing the Liberty Theater as a historic lantern and cultural epicenter for downtown Lawrenceburg is an exciting prospect for all of us and something that we are very proud to have been able to cultivate with Dan and team. There’s an approachability to everything that we have done here.” – Ron Novak - Drawing Dept., founder and architect.

Keith Neltner’s team at Neltner Small Batch created Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater brand identity with attention to history, a sense of place and the celebration of music and whiskey. “Dan and I have worked together over the years on gig posters featuring some of the most eclectic acts Dan has hosted in the Queen City (Nikki Lane, The Black Angels, The Heartless Bastards and Wussy). The opportunity to collaborate on a larger project and brand for his latest venture, Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater, an 1893 gem in Lawrenceburg, was an exciting journey to embark on. Unearthing a rich local history and honoring a community and gathering place like the Liberty truly is a responsibility we don’t take lightly.” – Keith Neltner, Neltner Small Batch founder.

Visit https://whiskeycityslibertytheater.com/ to see the new Liberty Theater brand identity by Neltner Small Batch.

Click “MERCH” (upper-left) and support this project by purchasing a Liberty Theater t-shirt or limited-edition, silk-screened “Architecture Series” poster signed and numbered by the artist James Billiter.

Follow The Liberty Theater renovation progress here: https://www.instagram.com/whiskeycityslibertytheater/ https://www.facebook.com/WhiskeyCitysLibertyTheater

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ABOUT The Liberty Theater

Built 1893, the Liberty Theater is a Historic Landmark and originally a German music theater called Liedertafel Hall, meaning “song table”. Converted for movies in 1921 and later named The Liberty Theater during WWII, her stage has been dormant for over 50 years. https://whiskeycityslibertytheater.com/

ABOUT Dan McCabe

A career spanning over 30 years building community through live music culture.

“Cincinnatians consider Dan a hero in the local industry – crediting him for keeping the Cincinnati music scene alive and well.”- Gold Star Chili “Flavor Maker” Award Winner 2021

Dan was a founder and co-owner/operator of Woodward Theater and MOTR Pub in Over-the-Rhine and served as Executive Producer of Cincinnati’s MidPoint Music Festival 2008-2014. Dan cut his teeth as talent buyer for legendary music venue Sudsy Malones programming adventurous original music seven nights a week 1991-1999.

See “Why Sudsy Malones Mattered and Still Does” - Cincinnati Magazine Jan.13, 2023. https://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/article/why-sudsy-malones-mattered-and-still-does/