A decade ago we saw the American movie theater’s next evolutionary step, stadium seating. The next wave, which promises to make all current theaters obsolete, arrives to Raleigh next year in the North Hills East complex. “Rotheater”, as it’s called, is a new concept where a circular theater rotates around a cylindrical screen. “The concept’s seed was the Carousel of Progress at Disneyworld.,” said Epic Entertainment Tech Director Boyd Schidt. “American’s are tired of static theaters with static screens.”

The concept is sure to take hold quickly given the shortening of Americans’ attention spans. Schidt’s son, a North Hills spokesman (affectionately known as “The Little Schidt”), said this particular installation will feature four separate pie-wedge shaped theaters. Each fourth of the circle will be separate from the other fourths, and will watch one movie on their screen. After 15 minutes the theater will rotate around the stationary screen set. So, each quadrant will watch a different movie for 15 minutes. Patrons stay for two complete rotations. “This way everyone gets to see a little bit of all of the movies we have,” said Schidt.