Plaza Theatre
The Plaza Theatre is a city-owned historic theatre located in Downtown Palm Springs. The theatre has an impressive role in the history of Palm Springs. Its iconic identity was established on its opening to the public in 1936 with the world premiere of the Oscar-winning George Cukor film, Camille, with its legendary star, Greta Garbo, who allegedly slipped into the back of the theatre after the lights went down. In addition to being a movie theatre, it was also the venue for nationally-broadcast radio theatre programs by such luminaries as Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, and Amos ‘n’ Andy.
Over the decades, the building has deteriorated, and the Plaza Theatre Foundation was established to raise funds for restoration of this important building. The City of Palm Springs asked the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation to expand its mission beyond the restoration itself and to then operate the theatre once it is reopened. The Foundation is continuing to raise funds to support this renovation and also provide startup costs once it is completed. The Foundation has already raised approximately $16.5 M but must raise at least $10M more to cover the construction costs and contingencies plus startup expenses.
The restoration project is now underway. Woodcliff Construction of Los Angeles has been hired to oversee the comprehensive renovation of the historic building. The restoration work will take approximately one year to complete, allowing the Plaza Theatre to open in 2025.
The renovated Plaza Theatre will remain a City of Palm Springs facility bringing arts and culture to downtown Palm Springs. When reopened, it will be an affordable community venue showcasing diverse programming, promoting multi-cultural programming in film, music, live theater, education, comedy, and entertainment for all.
The Foundation has partnered with Oak View Group to bring diverse high-quality programming to the theatre. Oak View Group (OVG) is the owner and operator of Acrisure Arena, Southern California’s newest 11,000-capacity world-class venue in Greater Palm Springs. It also owns the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the AHL’s 32nd franchise and the affiliate of the Seattle Kraken. OVG will provide day-to-day management of the historic theatre and secure programming and new sponsorship opportunities. All interested parties that would like to use the theatre are invited to explore booking opportunities at Booking@PSPlazaTheatre.org and be part of this exciting journey.
The Plaza Theatre will once again become a major economic driver for the City, generating millions in economic activity and will bring hundreds of visitors and locals per week to the downtown to see quality entertainment. Its estimated annual financial impact is $40 million and the estimated annual tax benefit to Palm Springs is $4 million.
Status: Under Construction
For more information, visit: https://savetheplazatheatreps.com/
The Plaza Theatre Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity corporation.
Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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John Bolton selected as New Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Plaza Theatre
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PALM SPRINGS, CA (October 8, 2024) The Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation announced that Oak View Group (OVG), the internationally acclaimed venue management group, has hired John Bolton to be the new Senior Vice President and General Manager of the historic Plaza Theatre, which is currently undergoing a major restoration. Previously the Foundation contracted Oak View Group to manage all aspects of running the historic theatre, including staffing. They will continue to fill other key staff roles at the theatre.
Bolton is currently Senior Vice President at OVG. The OVG team consulted with the Plaza Theatre Foundation and selected Bolton, who has already had first-hand experience with the Theatre as the OVG representative of the Foundation’s board. In his new role as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Bolton will continue to serve the on the Plaza Theatre Foundation’s Board of Directors as an Ex-Officio member.
“We could not be more thrilled about John’s selection as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Plaza Theatre,” said J.R. Roberts, President of the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation. “I have had the good fortune to work with John as a Foundation board member and I know he is deeply committed to ensuring that the Plaza Theatre will be an important cultural venue for the entire Coachella Valley. I could not think of another person who is as committed and uniquely qualified as John to serve in this important role. On behalf of the entire board, I congratulate Oak View Group for this tremendous positive addition to the Plaza Theatre.”
“The Plaza Theatre is not only an important historic building, but this City asset will also be a key element in Palm Springs’ thriving downtown, as well as our rich arts and culture offerings,” said Palm Springs Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein. “We could not be more excited to have John Bolton at the helm. His experience, expertise and commitment to our community will ensure the Plaza Theatre is something truly special. We are extremely appreciative that John has decided to take this on.”
Bolton was originally brought to the Coachella Valley by Oak View Group to oversee the construction and initial operation of the new $300+ million-dollar Acrisure Arena project as well as the launch of the newest American Hockey League franchise, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Bolton serves on the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, demonstrating his commitment to local business development and community growth and is also a member of the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau, which helps promote tourism and economic development in the region. The Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce recently awarded Bolton their President's Award for his work in facilitating the new Acrisure Arena project. This recognition highlights his efforts in bringing significant economic and entertainment opportunities to the Coachella Valley area.
Bolton is a venue industry icon having served as President of the International Association of Venue Managers, the world’s largest professional association of venue managers as well as Chair of the International Association of Entertainment Buyers, the leading not-for-profit trade organization for live industry entertainment professionals located in Nashville. Bolton has won numerous industry accolades including Pollstar’s Venue Executive of the Year and IAVM’s Venue Excellence Award, recognizing the top managed venues in the world.
“We are delighted to have John Bolton step into the role of Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Plaza Theatre,” said Greg O’Dell, President of OVG Venue Management. “John's leadership was instrumental in the success of Acrisure Arena, and his deep expertise, passion, and dedication make him the perfect choice to help bring the Plaza Theatre back to life. His vision and commitment to the Palm Springs community will ensure that the Theatre becomes a cultural beacon for the entire region. We couldn’t be more confident in his ability to lead this next chapter.”
“I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to launch two iconic venues in the Coachella Valley – the Acrisure Arena and now, the Plaza Theatre,” said Bolton. “I couldn’t ask for a cooler experience in a community that I love dearly. The Plaza Theatre's restoration is not just about preserving history, it is about revitalizing our community and improving the quality of life by providing a welcoming space for the arts to thrive.”
Oak View Group will run the day-to-day operations of the theatre and is already seeking diverse shows to bring to the theatre, promising a vibrant array of performances, educational programs, and community events. With a focus on emerging local artists and well-known musical and theatre performances, the Plaza Theatre is poised to become a dynamic hub of cultural activity once again.
It is estimated that when the Theatre is operational it will accommodate approximately 135,000 patrons per year who will potentially generate more than $40 million in incremental spending and provide more than $4 million direct economic impact to the city through sales and transient occupancy taxes. The Theatre will also provide general fund and Measure J revenue through sales tax, hotel tax, and economic impact through direct and indirect spending. Small business support through economic impact downtown and citywide is estimated to be at least $21M per year.
The theatre will also provide community engagement and pride through opportunities to support diverse and educational programming. When the restoration is completed, the Plaza Theatre will serve the community by hosting many kinds of events and productions and will be an exciting venue in downtown Palm Springs for live performances, film premieres, community and educational events, films, and much more.
"We invite all interested parties that would like to use the theatre to explore booking opportunities at Booking@PSPlazaTheatre.org and be part of this exciting journey," continued Bolton.
Recent construction milestones include essential structural repairs that have strengthened the building for current building codes, installation of a state-of-the-art, energy-efficient HVAC system, and successful asbestos abatement. One of the most thrilling aspects of this restoration has been uncovering hidden treasures from the theatre’s past including original decorative stencil work on the proscenium, which had been concealed for more than three decades. The Plaza Theatre is set to reopen in the late fall of 2025, which will not only celebrate our cultural heritage but also provide a significant boost to the downtown economy.
The Foundation is continuing to raise funds to fully restore the Plaza Theatre. It has already raised more than $16M but must raise at least $10M more to cover the construction costs and contingencies plus startup expenses. For those who wish to contribute to the restoration efforts, many exciting naming opportunities are available. To learn more about naming opportunities, contact J.R. Roberts at (760) 218-6330 or JR66@mac.com. For more information and updates on the Plaza Theatre restoration project, visit SaveThePlazaTheatrePS.org.
