The Homer Theater, built in 1956 by the Kranich family, has long been a cultural landmark in Homer, Alaska. Using steel shipped from the Lower 48, the single-screen theater opened its doors with a free community screening of The Command. Known as the Homer Family Theater, it operated six days a week, screening family-friendly films delivered by steamship from Seward. In the 1970s, ownership transitioned to Duane and Helen Belnap, who later sold it to the Dailey brothers. By the late 1990s, Bob Sedlock managed the theater, maintaining its tradition of showing first-run films and hosting community events.

In 2002, Jamie and Lynette Sutton purchased the theater, revitalizing it with new programming like the Homer Documentary Film Festival and screenings of the Metropolitan Opera and Bolshoi Ballet. In 2024, ownership passed to a group of local Homer kids and The Porcupine Theater was born. This new iteration introduces repertory and second-run films alongside live performances, with showtimes featuring classics, independent films, late-night horror, and even Saturday morning cartoons. The Porcupine Theater aims to broaden its appeal while preserving the venue as a vital cultural and social hub for the Homer community.

We are The Porcupine! This wild idea came to life in the fall of 2023 when Susannah decided to dig into why the local theater had been up for sale for nearly a decade. As a Realtor, she treated it as a professional experiment—running numbers, crafting projections, and drafting a business plan to bring the theater into a vibrant new era with the goal of pitching the plan to some willing sucker. Susannah soon realized that she was that willing sucker!
Embracing the spirit of bold and risky adventures (and potential financial ruin), Nate soon joined her in the mission. Together, they embarked on a journey filled with unexpected twists, an outpouring of community support, and plenty of learning along the way. The result is The Porcupine Theater, a space that celebrates creativity, connection, and the joy of coming together for shared experiences.