Closed down since the pandemic, the historic, single-screen Rio Theatre in downtown Overland Park could soon get new life and new owners — with a familiar famous face potentially in the mix.

At 7204 W. 80th St., the theatre first opened on Christmas Day in 1946 as the Overland Theatre and was added to the National Register of Historic Places about 20 years ago.

When The Fine Arts Theatre Group closed the Rio’s doors amid COVID-19 shutdown orders, it was seen as a temporary move, and even in 2023, there were hopeful plans to reopen it. But it’s been more than six years since the theater screened a film for the public or welcomed moviegoers.

Now, a group called Dream Theatre LLC is interested in the space, hoping to restore and eventually reopen the theater under the name Dream Theatre at the Rio.

Details are sparse, but the potential for development at the long-vacant site has people like Angie Mutti, the executive director of the Downtown Overland Park Partnership, excited.

“For years, there’s been kind of like just conversation about what it would look like to reopen,” she said. “We’re just really excited that there’s some movement on it, and so far that project is going forward.”

SNL alum, KC native has been posting about The Dream Theatre

While city documents are mum about who is involved in the project, former Saturday Night Live cast member and Kansas City native Heidi Gardner reshared a post about The Dream Theatre on Instagram recently.

She is also the copyright holder of a new Substack newsletter called The Dream Theatre. A newsletter sent out with the platform last week details a recent “Terminator 2” watch party and promises a yet-to-be-announced “permanent home” for The Dream Theatre. Gardner is pictured in photos from the evening, shared both on Substack and on Instagram.

Additionally, a photo posted earlier this month on The Dream Theatre Instagram account shows a flyer for the theater taped to pink tiles that look like the iconic tiles on the front of the Rio Theatre in downtown Overland Park.

The pictured flyer describes The Dream Theatre as “a Midwest picture palace and film haven.” It also promises to announce a “permanent location” later but offer pop-up film screenings “in eclectic settings” in the meantime.

Gardner, who attended the all-girls Notre Dame de Sion Catholic School in Kansas City, Missouri, bought and restored a mid-century modern home in Leawood a few years ago.

At the time of publication, Gardner had not returned the Post’s request for comment.

Rio Theatre to keep its iconic Art Deco look

The Dream Theatre intends to restore the “historic cultural anchor” that is the Rio Theatre, according to city documents.

“The project includes Art Deco-inspired design elements, a curated film schedule featuring themed nights and animated classics for children and adults, concessions, a dedicated cocktail lounge, and premium retail offerings,” staff wrote in a report.

Mutti, in an interview with the Post, reiterated that the goal with the project is “preserving the history of that as much as possible, which is really cool,” but declined to share details with the Post.

Pointing to a shared “nostalgia” for the community, she personally remembers going to that very theater as a child and has been fielding calls for years about it.

“Just seeing the marquee lit up, seeing life brought back to it,” Mutti said, “I think we’ll get a lot of visitors just visiting it, not only people like myself that grew up going there, but just people interested in the theater and the arts program.”

What’s in the Rio Theatre deal?

The Dream Theatre is asking the city for a $425,000 conditional grant to help cover the cost of buying the property as well as completing exterior work and other improvements, according to city documents.

As part of the deal, the theater would have to operate for at least 10 years after the final portion of the grant is distributed and allow the public to use the building’s parking lot — which is currently coned off — when the theater is not in use.

Additionally, The Dream Theatre has requested a sales tax exemption on building materials and costs, delivered through economic development revenue bonds.

It’s not a done deal by any means, but the Overland Park City Council Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee is set to take a first stab at the deal during its meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Later, the Overland Park City Council will need to approve a negotiated funding agreement before it can disburse any money. Separate from that, the city council would also have to approve a resolution of intent for the bonds and eventually vote to issue them.

Looking back: Rio Theatre in Overland Park remains closed — Will it reopen?