As many as 1,400 people will be able to enjoy a state-of-the-art facility when CineMagic Theatres opens its doors May 5.

Tuesday, March 28, 2000

As many as 1,400 people will be able to enjoy a state-of-the-art facility when CineMagic Theatres opens its doors May 5.

Located at OakPark Mall, the seven screens will show about 75 percent of today’s popular movies, giving moviegoers a place to relax and enjoy entertainment.

Bryan Sieve, vice president of finance and business development for CineMagic Theatres, said the new theater will provide all the current amenities, from concessions to picture and sound quality, while still providing the essence of entertainment in a relaxed atmosphere.

"With all the forms of entertainment out there, like video rentals, and even the Internet, there is still something about seeing a movie on a big screen with a bunch of people you don’t know," Sieve said. "There’s a bigger emotion that’s shared with the people in the audience."

Based in Brooklyn Park, CineMagic owns two other movie houses as part of the larger Midwest Theatres Corp. As a company, there are a total of 11 theaters in Owatonna, Red Wing, Hutchinson and other similar markets.

The seven screens here will feature a mix of digital surround sound and stereo sound in the smaller theaters. Sieve said the seating will be spacious and comfortable, with a couple of screens featuring "stadium-type" seating and chairs that can rock and pivot.

And as patrons enter the theater, Sieve said their eyes will be met with a stylish decor that is very contemporary, but not overdone.

"We want to make the movie experience pleasurable again," he said. "The 1980s were kind of a low point, but we’d like to help make movies magical again.