Renovations of the Will Rogers Theatre are currently at a standstill as floor plans are being discussed, but co-owner Katie Troccoli expects to begin work again within two months.

The theater, 705 Monroe Ave., was opened in 1938 and closed in November 2010 for financial reasons after AMC Entertainment Inc. bought out Kerasotes Showplace Theaters, which owned the Will Rogers at the time

In November 2011, Ottowa natives Troccoli, her husband James and business partner Tim Burke, bought the theater. All three operate the Majestic Theatre in Streator.

Troccoli said they are waiting on a second draft of drawings from an architect to discuss how they will proceed with renovations.

The main issue holding up work is trying to incorporate handicapped-accessible bathrooms into the theater, Troccoli said.

As of now, the theater has a handicapped-accessible bathroom, but it does not fit into the proposed plans and will need to be relocated, she said.

“To adequately restore the Will Rogers to its original glory, we have to be very careful about how we proceed,” Troccoli said.

Renovations have also been delayed by vandalism of one of four original art deco front doors. Troccoli said someone threw a rock and busted the door’s etched glass in January, but she is hoping a copy can be made to replace the damaged door.

Despite the delays, Troccoli said she is anxious to begin renovating the theater.

Already, she is planning on attracting local and national live performances and hopes to form her plans around what the community wants.

“It depends on what the community responds to,” she said.

The theater will also feature films in a 1,000-square-foot auditorium.

While Troccoli said she has not been surprised by most of what she has encountered while inspecting the theater, she was delighted to find the remnants of an orchestra pit that once existed below the stage.

However, she said she does not have plans on restoring the orchestra pit.

Troccoli said the moment she is most looking forward to once renovations are completed is when she can place the letters in the marquee out front and switch on the lights to display the Will Rogers’ first performance in years.

Tim Deters can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].