It’s been a little more than two years since Puget Sound Access moved into Carco Theatre and the facility has been a buzz of activity. There’s been all sorts of events as well as renovations, new management and a few donations, creating a more hospitable space for artists and guests.

Puget Sound Access is the provider of public education and government cable channels to South King County residents and offers arts entertainment videography through Puget Productions. It’s the company’s present mission to bring in more multicultural events through outreach to diverse communities, build on its productions for and by children and host events for Renton’s film community.

“We have our hands full, but we’re also really jazzed about what we’re doing here,” said Jeff McCord, executive director.

He came on board around the beginning of the year and so did Theatre Manager Cassie Welliver and Jonathon Crick, office manager.

The theatre recently wrapped up renovations, creating a green room and working offices downstairs in what used to be just a storage basement. McCord is excited because now staff and freelancers have the space to work on editing projects. Previously, most of staff and freelancers worked remotely, telecommuting.

Carco also received sound, lighting and audio visual upgrades, including a Sony 4,000 lumen laser projector for film events. McCord hopes to embrace the Renton film community with the projector addition, as the theatre has hosted Renton Crash Cinema in the past and will host Renton FilmFrenzy this fall. The arts entertainment arm, Puget Productions, has been shooting video for  the “Nights at the Neptune” series at Seattle’s Neptune Theatre.

Back in Renton, Carco is the backdrop for many kids’ theatre camps this summer as well as theatre groups that rent the space. Actors and musicians are enjoying the benefits of the upgrades, including an organ and a 1910 saloon piano that arrived as a donation from a Renton family.

Ken Mills, 92, with the assistance of his daughter, Sue Dietz, arranged to have their family organ and saloon piano donated to the theatre. The piano was built for Mills’ father, who had it in his bar during the 1920s in Toledo, Wash.

“We had gone as a family to several events to Carco in the ‘90s, so we were familiar with the theatre and we really support theatre,” said Dietz. “It was a perfect fit.”

The saloon piano, which is in the green room, is now a warm-up piano for artists waiting to go on stage. The organ is available for any organ players in the community for liturgical activities or other events.

Moving the instruments would have cost hundreds of dollars, had it not been for the donated services of Rick Block of Prosser Piano and Organ in Tacoma. Block has known Mills for a number of years and felt compelled to make the donation to Carco happen.

“It’s wonderful; it’s very nice to hear that the family decided to let the theatre have those amenities, both the piano and the organ,” said McCord.

Other new theatre amenities include a concessions booth for theatre guests.

“The audiences really like having that service,” said Welliver.

This summer Puget Sound Access plans to host trivia, gamers’ and karaoke nights at Carco to get non-theatre-goers inside the building.

“We’re really wanting to just make the place functional and welcoming for everyone to come to,” said the theatre manager.

So far, staff have received feedback from guests saying the space feels more vibrant and alive. The latest upgrades were completed with funds from Puget Sound Access’ budget not City of Renton money.

“We wanted to invest our own time, money and energy into making this better for the city of Renton and that’s really important for us,” said McCord.

The public is invited down to the theatre to check out the new amenities, during administrative public hours, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., on non-event days. Carco Theatre is located at 1717 Southeast Maple Valley Highway, Renton.