Special to NMG: Princeton Garden Theatre stays virtual amid pandemic
By Nolan Thompson
A Princeton nonprofit theater has remained closed and is providing virtual screenings to engage with patrons during the pandemic, despite New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy permitting movie houses to reopen as of early September.
The Princeton Garden Theatre’s operators, the Pennsylvania-based nonprofit organization Renew Theaters, is exploring pop-up outdoor screenings and curbside concession stands to increase revenue. A film industry expert stated that increased digital rentals would threaten theaters’ income after the pandemic subsides. Some patrons in the community expressed concern over returning to theaters, believing that indoor gatherings are too great a health risk in the age of COVID-19.