Celebrity Theatre facts for kids
Celebrity Theatre
(once known as "Phoenix Star Theatre") |
|
| Former names | Phoenix Star Theatre (1963-1968) Travelodge Center (1968-1972) |
|---|---|
| Address | 440 N 32nd Street Phoenix, Arizona 85008 United States |
| Owner | Heidi Hazelwood - Celebrity Theatre, LLC |
| Type | Theater in the round |
| Capacity | 2,650 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1963 |
| Architect | Perry Neuschatz |
| Structural engineer | T. Y. Lin International |
| General contractor | E. L. Farmer Construction Company |
The Celebrity Theatre is a special kind of performance hall located in Phoenix, Arizona. It's known as a theater in the round, which means the stage is in the middle, and the audience sits all around it.
Contents
Building the Theatre
The Celebrity Theatre was designed by architect Perry Neuschatz. It's a big, round building, about 196 feet across. It was built to be a place for many different events, like conferences and cultural shows.
Perry Neuschatz's design was so good that it won a top award in 1964. Gary Call helped as an associate architect. T. Y. Lin International made sure the building was strong, and E. L. Farmer Construction Company built it. The owners wanted it to be a great place for concerts, especially in the winter.
Renovations and History
The theatre has been updated several times. It had a big renovation in 1995. More recently, in 2021, it got another major update. This included new plumbing and redone restrooms. The lower level was also changed and is now called the Encore Lounge. This lounge has a new bar and a smaller stage for different acts.
The Celebrity Theatre is an important building in Phoenix. It was added to the Phoenix Historic Property Register in 2013. In 2019, it was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as a special historic place in the United States.
Unique Stage Features
The stage at the Celebrity Theatre is 30 feet wide and perfectly round. The audience surrounds it on all sides. One cool thing about this theatre is that the entire stage can slowly spin around. It can make a full turn in about two hours. This way, everyone in the audience gets to see every part of the stage during a show.
When the theatre first opened, the stage had to be turned by hand! This changed in 1969 when an electric motor was added. No matter where you sit in the theatre, you're never more than 70 feet from the stage. This means everyone has a great view. The theatre also has a special area for an orchestra. It can even be changed to a more traditional stage setup if needed, but this means fewer seats are available.
Famous Performances
The Celebrity Theatre opened on January 13, 1964. The first show was the musical South Pacific, starring Betsy Palmer. Many famous performers have appeared here over the years.
Comedy Specials
- In 1978, comedian George Carlin filmed his TV special George Carlin: Again! at the theatre. It was one of the first stand-up comedy shows filmed "in the round."
- In February 2013, Louis C.K. filmed his comedy special Oh My God here. The round stage was made blue, just like it was for George Carlin's special.
- In September 2022, Nate Bargatze filmed his special Hello World, which was released in January 2023.
- Tom Segura also filmed four sold-out shows in November 2022 for his special Tom Segura: Sledgehammer, released in 2023.
See also
- Theater in the round
