Alex Hussey had been working at the Grand Theatre for eight years as a lighting technician and sound designer when the longtime owners offered him the opportunity to take over operations.

Alex knew he would need a helping hand.

He turned to the person he’s worked alongside the longest — his brother, Andrew Hussey. Alex knew his brother could offer his front-of-house and management expertise, having managed Venti’s in downtown Salem. 

At the same time, Alex would handle all technical aspects, including audio engineering, lighting board operation and graphics for marketing.

Now, over a year into operating their To the Ceiling entertainment company out of the 400-seat Grand, they’re focused on bringing live music and multi-faceted performances to downtown. 

After a trial year, they signed a new three-year lease, continuing to work with Cindy and Joe Meduri, who own the Grand and previously ran its operations. The Grand used to be home to Enlightened Theatrics, which was launched in 2013 by Vincenzo Meduri, the owner’s son.

From big names and cover bands to tribute acts and improv groups, they’re working toward turning the Grand into a landing pad for variety and making Salem a hub for entertainment in Oregon.

“When the owner offered us that opportunity, we went and sat down at a restaurant together, and Andrew made about that sound,” Alex said as his brother took a mildly pained deep breath.

The prospect of working together as brothers was daunting but promising.

The pair laughed as they recalled the moment. “I think we just decided we’ll never get this opportunity ever again,” Alex said. “No one’s ever going to hand us a 400-seat theater and say, ‘Do something with it.’”

Growing Salem’s live event scene

Since the Hussey brothers started To the Ceiling, a goal has been to earn the trust of local audiences who consistently attend live events in Salem. That means bringing in local acts, authors for book signings and comedy shows. They’re also considering how to make Salem more popular for tourism, hoping to bring in bigger names.

“There’s so many people that have lived here for so long, and earning that (trust) from them is going to be hard,” Andrew said. “We love our locals, and we love our people that will support events X, Y and Z, but for this to be sustainable, it’s, ‘How do we capture the interest of people that want to visit?’” 

Beyond their goal of branching out into new audiences, they’re also hoping to expand the offerings in their physical space. The theater is attached to a ballroom, which they plan to use for smaller acts and performances. The way Andrew puts it, they want audiences to look to the Grand to see what’s coming. 

“​​I think this (room) is going to be something that we can offer more to local bands and still have a really strong music hub, as opposed to 17 different bars all kind of trying to do 17 different things,” Andrew said. “It’d be cool if there was one central audience.” 

Close to home

The Husseys have been involved in the music and production industry since they were kids in Salem. Growing up playing guitar and singing in choir helped steer them toward their musical inclinations. 

When Alex was in drama in high school, he didn’t quite feel confident singing. It led him to opt for a role running the sound board instead. 

“I was looking at it all wide-eyed, that’s what took me into the field,” he remembers. “And so I did that for four years.”

Andrew was a bartender by trade, but he always looked for ways to stay true to the music-making and entertainment he loved as a kid.

When he moved from bartending to a management position at Venti’s, he’d host shows where staff pulled dozens of chairs onto the sidewalk to accommodate a 100-person crowd.

Andrew would often perform guitar on the sidewalk on the corner of Court and State Street outside the restaurant. As the events continued and the crowds continued to draw, the attention to the performances gave him a clear sign. 

“It turned into a need that I saw for downtown in general to have more music,” he said.

They each individually pursued their endeavors in entertainment, making music and running sound for local jazz ensembles until circumstances brought them together again. During Covid, the brothers lived together and spent “quality time with the guitar in the living room,” and watched every Super Bowl halftime show.

Regardless of their independent focuses on the industry, music and performance continue to bond them. 

“You know, Andrew and I can slay any campfire this side of the Mississippi,” Alex said.

When the Hussey brothers think about the future of the Grand, they reference the story that gave their entertainment company its name.

“Taking something to the ceiling doesn’t sound very far, right?” Andrew said. “If you’re taking something up, you would go to the moon or go somewhere further, but it’s a moniker that we’ve used for a long time.” 

One year, during an annual trip they make with a group of friends to the Columbia Gorge to see Dave Matthews Band, a friend misspoke and said that they should go to the ceiling instead of to the roof while they were staying in a hotel. Going “to the ceiling” quickly became an inside joke for the group.

“We started using it to mean that we’re turning it up,” Andrew said. “And it talks about exactly what we are trying to do — elevate the entertainment.” 

Have a news tip? Contact reporter Mirandah Davis-Powell: [email protected] or 541-621-5176.

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