GULF SHORES, Ala. — With the addition of its digital theater last fall, Pinnacle 14 Cinemas is offering more than movies to the community.

“When we got the digital theater it opened the door to all the technology that’s out there,” lead assistant manager Garet Sechrist said.

Now the Cobb-run movie theater has the capability to show live broadcasts like operas and sporting events, as well as documentaries and 3-D movies.

The most recent showing, a presentation of the opera Lucia Di Lammermoor, was brought from the Metropolitan Opera House in Manhattan to Gulf Shores.

The almost four-hour production, composed by Gaetano Donizetti, included subtitles for those not fluent in Italian.

The story, which is based on the feud between the Scottish families of Ravenswood and Lammermoor, also included behind-the-scenes footage shown during intermissions.

Viewers also watched as the stage was transformed to its next act and witnessed interviews with the performers, director and staff of the Met.

Marianne Grant, a resident of Orange Beach, was present for Lucia Di Lammermoor.

“We love opera and we are just so delighted to have the opera this close to us,” she said. “It’s just a marvelous opportunity.”

Sechrist said the options are endless with what can be shown at the digital theater. There’s an event for everyone — from anime for kids to concerts for teens and documentaries for parents.

Broadcasts of sporting events like Auburn and Alabama games, the Major League Baseball World Series and the National Football League Super Bowl are in the works. There are even hopes to show them in 3-D.

The word has gotten out about the unique entertainment, and Sechrist said people traveled from surrounding states to see the first opera, shown Feb. 7.

“When we showed the live performance of Lucia Di Lammermoor we had people from Mobile, Gulfport, Miss., Florida; they were all here,” Sechrist said.

The next event, a documentary about women in today’s world called “A Powerful Noise,” will be shown on March 5.

It will include an interactive session where viewers can get their questions asked live via text from a cell phone.

Prominent women like Katie Couric and Maria Shriver are planned to be a part of the panel answering questions.

For more information about what’s showing log on to the Cobb Theater Web site, cobbtheaters.com or fandango.com and search for Pinnacle 14 Cinemas.