By the early 1980s the theatre was closed and slated for demolition when a group of local citizens banded together and formed what is now known as the Northwest Connecticut Association for the Arts.

It has presented some of the world's finest performers, from the Vienna Boys Choir to Anne Murray, and from George Carlin to the Washington Ballet.

The Warner's dedicated Board of Directors represents a unique cross-section of business, education, government, and the arts, providing strong and visionary leadership for this important institution.

Funded by an exhaustive fund-raising effort, that included generous support from the State and Federal governments, the community, and regional corporations, the Warner Theatre closed its doors in early August 2002 to complete Phase One of its restoration of the vintage Art Deco auditorium.

For the next two months, the auditorium was filled with 45 ft. high scaffolding to enable the restoration of the intricately stencilled ceiling, refurbishment of the huge, silver and gold star-shaped light, and cleaning and gilding for the complex, interweaving pattern that tops the theatre's walls.

The "monkey fur"—actually crushed velvet—wall covering that was brown for more than a generation, has been restored back to its original vivid blood orange hue through a supplier in Germany.