On August 28, 2025, the West Newton Cinema Foundation invited the community to the theatre for a day of free movies and a party — with birthday cake! — to celebrate the first anniversary of the nonprofit foundation’s acquisition of the West Newton Cinema (WNC).
WNC Theatre Manager Jesse Cerrotti outlined for Fig City News some of this year’s many successes and accomplishments being celebrated:
- Ticket sales are up by 50%.
- Roof repair and maintenance has been completed.
- Accessibility has been improved with the installation of new features, including captioning and headsets.
- New 4K laser projectors have been purchased, and an enhanced sound system being installed.
- In support of making WNC a community center, WNC has hosted many events, including presentations by film makers and actors, and other panel discussions.
The WNC event was abuzz around the concession stand, the T-shirt sales, the raffle, and the cake cutting. Nate Watley worked the concession stand as “Popcorn Warmer.”
Naomi Davis brought LeVar Espar (4) of Belmont to the cake cutting and a movie. Davis’ first job out of college was working the concession stand at WNC in 1988!
Life-long WNC patron Judy Dore, 86, worked at the concession stand when she was 16 — and dated the head usher for some time back then. She worked most of her career at City Hall, where she helped establish Newton’s Farmers’ Markets. She was glad to purchase a WNC T-shirt at the event.
Maya and Alex Hurt, 11-year-old twins, have been coming to West Newton Cinema for birthday parties since kindergarten — and remain very ardent supporters.
Mia Santangelo (20) of Newton works at WNC every summer and is currently studying architecture in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
WNCF directors Elizabeth Heilig, Jill Bellio, and J.B. Sloan served birthday cake at the celebration.
WNC Theatre Manager Jesse Cerrotti presented many thank-you awards, including a mini “Oscar” to Adonis Deacon, Head of Maintenance, as a token of appreciation for his service.
The next phase for the renovation of the theatre is now underway. WNC Foundation board president Elizabeth Heilig leads the fundraising for this work.
