Market Street Productions (MSP), the operators of the Tally Ho Theatre in downtown Leesburg since 2008, have given their notice and will be vacating the theatre effective in early September, 2012. Their last day of operation will be on Monday, Sept. 3.

Dave Wright, operations manager for Market Street Productions, cites many reasons for the decision to move, including increasing competition from surrounding multiplex cinemas, the high overhead cost of operating a movie theatre and, most importantly, the eventual conversion from 35MM film to digital projection.

“Within the next 12 months, the major studios will no longer produce and ship 35MM film prints and will be 100 percent digital by the end of 2013," Wright said. “Because we do not own the space, we could not take the venue in the direction it would need to go to sustain itself long-term.”

Wright and his partners, David Sly and Steve Heaton look at this move as a positive step and believe this will actually afford them the opportunity to focus their efforts on the live comedic performance aspect that has become a trademark of their tenure at the Tally Ho.

In the almost five years since Market Street Productions took over ownership of the theatre, they have continued showing first-run films as well as incorporating many special programs and events geared towards the families of Loudoun County including, but not limited to, the Kids Summer Cinema, Tally Ho Hauntings, Friday Night Live and $3 Thursday programs.

In addition, while under the management of Market Street Productions, the Tally Ho became known as a destination spot for live comedy shows, most notably, Last Ham Standing, a family-friendly improv comedy show patterned after TV’s “Whose Line is it Anyway?” that performs the first Friday of every month.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the show over the past four and a half years, they are excited to announce that they will be moving their monthly show to the Franklin Park Arts Center in Purcellville. Their first show in the new space will be Friday, September 21 as part of Franklin Park’s opening weekend for their 2012-2013 season. For more information on Last Ham Standing, visit www.LastHam.com.

Wanting to go out on a high note, Market Street Productions has several special events and a few surprises planned for the month of August and would like to encourage the residents of Loudoun County to take this opportunity to visit their neighborhood movie theatre one more time before the doors close on Labor Day.