by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Thursday night or Friday morning will be a big moment in the history of Wellington Regent Theater. The blockbuster movie “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” will debut at 12:01 a.m.

Yes, it is a school night, Mom. But this is a premiere – in the tradition of the bigger movie theaters in Wichita.

“It’s a huge gamble for us,” said J.C. Long, a member of the Wellington Regent Theater board. “But we are seeing more people come to the Wellington Regent theater and thought this would go over well here.”

The movie is big. It is the sequel to the original “Hunger Games” and the second of the three-part trilogy. Katniss Everdeen will continue her quest to save the world. Only this time she will be doing it in front of Sumner County people right out of the movie theater box office gate. 

“We are thrilled to get it,” Long said. “Jerry (Fike, Regent manager) really worked hard to get this movie.”

This marks another milestone for the historic theater on 114 W. Lincoln. After reopening in 2010, Wellington Regent purchased a digital theater projector in February. The movies have been a hit with local movie consumers as attendance continues to rise.

“Having the digital projector has really helped us get movies in a more timely manner,” Long said.

Now comes the first midnight showing in Wellington, usually reserved for the mega-theaters in cities nearby.

It will be quite an investment for the Wellington Regent. In order to get the movie immediately, Catching Fire must be shown for three weeks. Also, the movie must be shown every night for two weeks. So Sumner County residents have plenty of opportunities to see the movie, again and again.

“I remember back in 1994 when we had Toy Story for the first time,” Fike said. “We ran it for four weeks at the Wellington Regent because the crowds were so big.”

Long said tying the movie up that long in Wellington is the gamble.

“We are counting on people coming back a second or third time,” Long said.

Fike said advanced tickets are currently on sale.

In the meantime go see the movie this weekend at the Wellington Regent which is Last Vegas – a Hangover type movie about older people. Katniss and her bow and arrow can wait.