Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts
Address | 1419 Basin Street New Orleans, Louisiana United States |
---|---|
Coordinates | 29°57′47″N 90°04′10″W / 29.96312°N 90.06931°W |
Owner | Ambassador Theatre Group |
Type | Performing arts |
Capacity | 2,100[1] |
Current use | Performing arts venue |
Construction | |
Opened | January 1973 |
Closed | August 2005 |
Reopened | January 8, 2009 |
Website | |
Official website |
The Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts is a theater located in
It serves as the long-term residence of the
History
The 2,100-seat Mahalia Jackson Theater first opened in January 1973, with a performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Messa da Requiem, starring New Orleans native Norman Treigle and the New Orleans Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Werner Torkanowsky.[3][4]
Before
Diana Ross played a three-night, sold-out engagement at the theater in 1996. It was deemed one of the most successful pop concerts at the venue.
Return
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, the Mahalia Jackson Theater was severely damaged.[3] The theater sustained 14 ft. of water, which damaged the motor control center, orchestra lifts, heating and air-conditioning controls, sewerage ejector pumps and other structural components.[6] Following Katrina, repairs and upgrades were made including the addition of enhanced lighting and a new sound system, orchestra shell, ballet floor, and digital cinema screen. The cost of the theater renovation was around US$27 million, and was financed by local tax dollars, about $8.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and a $500,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.[6][7]
About a week of events from January 8 through January 17, 2009, celebrated the reopening of the theater, including a free performance by Kermit Ruffins, Irma Thomas, and Marva Wright as well as paid performances by Allen Toussaint, Yolanda Adams, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra with Itzhak Perlman, New Orleans Ballet Association with members of the San Francisco and New York City Ballets, and the New Orleans Opera Association with Plácido Domingo.[8]
Mahalia Jackson Theater was the first of the major theaters in New Orleans to reopen after Hurricane Katrina.[9] City officials hoped the theater would help draw tourists to the city.[10]
In 2013 the theater hosted the
Broadway in New Orleans (2009–present)
On June 25, 2009,
On March 16, the 2010-11
The national tour of The Addams Family in September 2011 was the first Broadway musical to take advantage of the incentive programs offered by Louisiana Entertainment, the state's comprehensive entertainment industry development office.[14]
The 2011–2012 season was announced on March 14, 2011. The Lion King, which was originally set to have its Louisiana debut at the Saenger Theatre in spring 2012, played instead at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.
See also
- List of concert halls
- List of music venues
- List of opera houses
- Theatre in Louisiana
References
- ^ "History" Archived January 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine mahaliajacksontheater.com
- ^ "Mahalia Jackson Theater History". Arts Center Enterprises. 2008. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ a b c Waddington, Chris (January 3, 2009). "A night of music and dance open restored Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ "Mahalia Jackson Theater Re-Opening". City of New Orleans official website. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
- ^ "New Orleans' Mahalia Jackson Theatre to reopen in 2009". Baton Rouge Business Report. Associated Press. January 30, 2008. Archived from the original on July 28, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ a b Krupa, Michelle (December 19, 2008). "Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts set to host all-star events". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ Jervis, Rick (January 10, 2009). "Reopened theater stages comeback for New Orleans arts". USA Today. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ Maloney, Ann (January 7, 2009). "Free all-star concert at Mahalia spotlights local musicians Irma Thomas, Kermit Ruffins and many more". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ "New Orleans' Katrina-damaged Mahalia Jackson Theater reopens". The Los Angeles Times. January 7, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ "Big Easy's Historic Mahalia Jackson Theater Opens". National Public Radio. January 9, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ ""2ND ANNUAL NFL HONORS," A TWO-HOUR PRIMETIME AWARDS SHOW FROM THE MAHALIA JACKSON THEATER IN NEW ORLEANS, TO BE BROADCAST SUPER BOWL EVE, SATURDAY, FEB. 2 ON CBS". CBS Sports. January 8, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
- ^ Story fox8live
- ^ "2011 Schedule of Broadway" nola.com
- ^ Jones, Kenneth."'Addams Family' Will Hit the Road in 2011; Tour Will Launch in New Orleans" Archived July 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, April 30, 2010