at that time that $3.5 million was needed to completely restore the theatre. Due to the shortfall, there were many projects that had to be cut, including adding air conditioning which the building never had, and still does not have. As of 2007, the theatre is operated and staffed by PET. A non-profit organization, PET was formed in 1978 to save the theatre from destruction. Since the 1980s restoration the theatre has been host to a variety of films and events. The current marquee is the fourth to adorn the theatre; it was installed during the 1982 restoration. The DeKalb Egyptian has a 42-week season during which it features around 125 events annually. The Egyptian's season is cut short by the hot northern Illinois summers; the theatre has no air conditioning. In 2006 more than thirty professional groups plus student organizations and university departments from nearby Northern Illinois University used the theatre. Many notable performers have appeared at the Egyptian Theatre including Journey with Cheap Trick (from Rockford) (1977), Heart in '77, Violent Femmes (from Milwaukee) in '83, R.E.M. (1984), Los Lobos (1994), Tori Amos (1994), Gaelic Storm (2003), Umphrey's McGee (from South Bend) (2008), UK's Frank Turner (2010), The Wonder Years (2011), Aaron Carter (2013), Rick Springfield (2013), Chicago band Survivor (2013) comedian Lewis Black (2015), Chicago's Richard Marx (2015), Chicago's The Buckinghams (2015), Chicago's Plain White T's (2018), UK classic rock band Sweet (2018), Scotty McCreery (2019), Arlo Guthrie (2019) The Turtles with Classics IV and other 60s bands (2021), Jesse McCartney (2021), Jeff Tweedy of Wilco (from Chicago) (2022). The Egyptian hosts Gaelic Storm each year and several tribute bands. In January 2019 Executive Director Alex Nerad announced that the theater would undergo a $5.5 million renovation, including adding air-conditioning to protect the historical integrity of the building and alterations to meet the standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Theatre officials plan to re-open in 2020. Architecture Although the DeKalb Egyptian Theatre is one of up to one hundred Egyptian-style theatres built during the early 20th century, it is believed to be one of only six remaining in the United States. This particular theatre is more than a simple hodgepodge of hieroglyphics and Egyptian symbols. The architect, Elmer F. Behrns, himself interested in Egyptology, designed the Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb to have one central theme. Behrns' motif for the DeKalb Egyptian was that of Pharaoh