Welcome, Toby. Welcome back.

On Friday, the Randall L. and Marianne W. Tobias Theater will reopen to the public for the first time in four years.

Formerly known as Showalter Pavilion (once home to the Indianapolis Civic Theatre), the 600-seat theater on the ground floor of the Indianapolis Museum of Art has been transformed into an eclectic forum for films, talks by notable speakers and live performances.

Museum staffers have affectionately nicknamed it the Toby.

The theater has undergone an extensive $2.million alteration, made possible by a pair of gifts from the Tobiases and the support of several other patrons.

We got a behind-the-scenes look at the Toby, so check out this exclusive sneak peek.

Venue

The Toby has been outfitted with two 35 mm film projectors, as well as a hi-def video projector, plus a new 30-foot screen that can be removed for stage events. A Dolby Digital Surround Sound system also has been installed.

All of the 600 seats are new, including the 170 or so in the balcony. In addition, the Toby's foremost stage section can be lowered to create an informal seating area -- complete with gigantic red beanbag chairs and cocktail tables. A spacious dais that can accommodate wheelchairs is another new feature.

Considerable effort was made to keep the Toby refurbishment as environmentally friendly as possible -- for example, the flooring is made of recycled car tires and cork, and the seats are covered with recycled polyester. Restroom fixtures' water use is minimal.

The lobby promises to be a swank scene, complete with rotating furniture from the museum's design center. A bar will feature more than just popcorn and candy. Alcoholic beverages will be served, too (although not during family-friendly events).

The Toby is available for rental.

Movies .....

Films, many of them packaged in three new programs, will be the main thrust for the Toby.

The Winter Nights series, at 7.p.m. every Friday in January and February, will be an indoor companion to the IMA's popular Summer Nights film series. The 2009 series will kick off Jan. 2 with "Unforgiven," "The Maltese Falcon" on Jan. 9 and "La Dolce Vita" on Jan. 16.

The One-Two Punch, a double bill of two movies with similar themes or that otherwise comment on each other, will be held on the last Saturday of every month. First up, on Nov. 29, are "Idiocracy" and "Brazil," two films with darkly absurd visions of the future that were largely ignored during their theatrical runs.

The Screen Zenith program, at 2:30 p.m. every other Saturday from January through March, will showcase award-winning movies from international film festivals. The first, on Jan. 10, will be "4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days," a grim look at illegal abortion in Romania.

... and more

In addition to movies, there will be plenty of musical performances and talks.

• The Toby will kick off its new era this Friday evening with a performance of "Virtuosos & Visions," featuring violinist Cho-Liang Lin and pipa artist Min Xiao-Fen. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $17 for IMA members, $10 for students.

• On Dec. 2 is "Delicious Revolution: An Evening With Alice Waters," a talk with the famous "Slow Food" movement advocate. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for IMA members, $3 for K-12 educators, free for students.

• On Dec. 28, "Chinese Theatre Works: Shadow Puppetry" will bring a family-friendly event using ancient methods to tell the classic Chinese story "The Birth of the Monkey King." Tickets are $7 for general admission, $3 for IMA members, free for children 12 and younger.

• On Jan. 15 is "Improv Percussionist "Tatsuya Nakatani," who uses cymbals, bowls, bells, sticks and bows to create organic music that defies genre. Tickets are $8 for general admission, $4 for IMA members, $6 for college students, free for students 17 and younger.

Randall L. and Marianne W. Tobias Theater

When: The first public event, "Virtuosos & Visions," will be at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21.

Location: Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Road.

Tickets: All Toby films are $8, $4 for IMA members; tickets for performances and talks vary.

Info: (317) 955-2339, or www.imamuseum.org/toby