Along with rugged beauty and vast outdoor experiences, Bonners Ferry is known for its quaint charm and long history. Among the historic buildings in the city’s limits, the Pearl Theater stands proudly on Ash Street overlooking the Kootenai River. 

Built in 1894, the building was the first Catholic Church in Bonners Ferry and remained so until the 1980s when it was utilized by the Community Fellowship Church. In 2010, the building was purchased and renovated with the intent for it to be used for performance arts. 

Not long after, in 2012, the Pearl became a non-profit organization and purchased the building.

Before 2020, the theater focused mostly on the performance arts, mainly concerts and plays, but movie nights have always been a community favorite. The building has been, and still is, available for anyone to rent for events. 

Performance arts will always be a focus, but now, since the [pandemic], the theater is adding more community events and classes. McCallum Morgan, program director, said. 

“I would also like to see more theaters in this town,” Morgan added.

Some of the classes and events recently being held at the Pearl are yoga, dance classes, karaoke, basket weaving, drum circle, book talk, and writers group. Some of the events are free and some are fee-based. 

The Pearl is completely volunteer-run, aside from Morgan’s position as program director, which is the only paid position. They depend on their volunteers, donations and grants for everything to run successfully, Morgan said.

More volunteers are needed to keep the programming going, with a variety of positions and ways available for people to help. From maintenance and yard work to helping with the logistics of a performance, Morgan said there is always something to be done.

Specifically people who know how to run the sound and lights, or someone who would like to learn how. Morgan said. The Pearl is also open to having teens come in to do some shadowing and learn about volunteerism. 

Morgan has a lot of plans and ideas for the future of the Pearl. Over the last couple of years, the Pearl Theater has seen increased programming and community involvement, and he would like for that to continue. 

For more information about the theater, go online to thehistoricpearltheater.org, or subscribe to the Pearl’s newsletter to keep up on the scheduled events.