Ivory Theater- former St. Boniface Church in Carondelet

threeonefour · PostJul 24, 2007#112007-07-24T17:33+00:00

Hugh Ferriss wrote:Today I received an e-mail from New Line announcing their 2007-08 season, and it confirms that all their future shows will be at the Ivory Theatre, with the first production scheduled to open there on September 27th.

I've been going to productions at the ArtLoft for years and will miss the place, but I suspect its days as a performing venue are numbered given the inexorable redevelopment along Washington.

I'm glad to hear that Saint Boniface...er...the Ivory Theater has a new tenant.

Hopefully we'll hear more news about redevelopment of adjacent properties soon.

the central scrutinizer · PostJul 24, 2007#122007-07-24T18:17+00:00

bonwich wrote:In the very old days (the '80s and early '90s) there was a ramshackle but wonderful little Cajun restaurant down that way called Guidry's. It got wiped out the the '93 flood. It'll be good to have more new interesting restaurant choices down that way.

I have vague memories of having been there once or twice.

southcitygent · PostSep 25, 2007#132007-09-25T15:11+00:00

The theater opens on Thursday, it has been an amazing transformation with no expense spared. The website is http://www.ivorytheater.org/

gelatinousendive · PostSep 25, 2007#142007-09-25T15:44+00:00

southcitygent wrote:The theater opens on Thursday, it has been an amazing transformation with no expense spared. The website is http://www.ivorytheater.org/

I don't find the web site especilaly useful. Buried at the bottom of the screen by the copyright notice, is (what I presume to be) the address of the place. If I were trying to use this web site to find the place, I'd be angry.

I suppose it is in the early stage of design, however. Hope it gets better.

hugh ferriss · PostSep 27, 2007#152007-09-27T17:03+00:00

The Post-Dispatch has a new article about the Ivory Theatre today. The article also discusses various other residential and commercial projects in the Carondelet area:

<a href="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... t">Theater in old church offers new life</a>

stlmike · PostSep 27, 2007#162007-09-27T19:55+00:00

With all of the developments going on, part of me is expecting a "(Somebody Huge) Announces Major Mid-Town Theatre Distric Renovation Plan" headline, complete with 3 or 4 large-scale theatres for major broadway shows and high quality theatre companies.

southcitygent · PostSep 27, 2007#172007-09-27T20:47+00:00

I'd be willing to sell my home for that type of project. If only the gods of eminent domain would smile upon me and grant twice my homes value along with a moving stipend.

notes from home · PostSep 28, 2007#182007-09-28T02:33+00:00

Oh geez, Archbishop Burke is at it again.

Archdiocese blocks performance at Ivory Theatre

By Robert Kelly and Matthew Hathaway

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

09/28/2007

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Archdiocese today blocked the opening night of "Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll" at the Ivory Theatre after telling a judge the musical revue violated an agreement prohibiting adult entertainment in the former Catholic church....

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument

tysalpha · PostSep 28, 2007#192007-09-28T03:56+00:00

^ Somebody should add a re-enactment of Madonna's "Like A Prayer" video into the program, just to spite him.

Alex Ihnen · PostSep 28, 2007#202007-09-28T04:04+00:00

Well, I'd say that if there was an agreement in place and they decided to put on "Sex, Drugs and Rock-N-Roll" then the theater's at fault. Of course the definition of "adult" entertainment leaves some wiggle room. It seems that not every show would have to be kid-friendly.

trent · PostSep 28, 2007#212007-09-28T14:46+00:00

If God exists, I think he/she/it rolls his/her/its/ eyes each time Burke opens his mouth.

dweebe · PostSep 28, 2007#222007-09-28T15:08+00:00

trent wrote:If God exists, I think he/she/it rolls his/her/its/ eyes each time Burke opens his mouth.

Burke is just another sign of what's wrong with the Catholic church. As a St. Stanislaus Kostka Church member, I hope Burke's reign of terror ends soon.

Alex Ihnen · PostSep 28, 2007#232007-09-28T20:34+00:00

The show at Ivory Theatre will go on

By Robert Kelly and Matthew Hathaway

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

09/28/2007

ST. LOUIS — The controversial show -- "Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll" at the Ivory Theatre will go on tonight after the Archbishop reviewed the material in the show.

In a joint statement Friday, Archbishop Raymond Burke, who got a restraining order to stop the performance, and Pete Rothschild, a theater owner, said today they had agreed that the show would go on tonight as scheduled with no change in its content.

The decision happened after church officials reviewed the material and determined that it was not objectionable. The temporary restraining order has been lifted.

...........................................

"Before we bought the church, we discussed it with the church's real estate guy," he said. "We thought they didn't want strippers or that kind of business. I can understand their wish to prevent something truly objectionable from happening in formerly consecrated space, but this isn't offensive."

tysalpha · PostSep 29, 2007#242007-09-29T01:55+00:00

^ Good.

I still think they should add this number to it:

bastiat · PostSep 29, 2007#252007-09-29T03:41+00:00

Tysalpha wrote:^ Good.

I still think they should add this number to it:

The Church should review material before it makes any public complaints, but they have a legit reason to complain if it is inappropriate.

Oh, wow you rebel! Showing images that are blasphemous to Christianity! That is so outrageous and original! I bet that will really offend some people and they might even get angry! This is not childish and overdone, it is really clever and really shows you aren't afraid to make a point! You're really putting yourself in a dangerous position, look out!

tysalpha · PostSep 29, 2007#262007-09-29T07:29+00:00

Bastiat wrote:
Tysalpha wrote:^ Good.

I still think they should add this number to it:

The Church should review material before it makes any public complaints, but they have a legit reason to complain if it is inappropriate.

Oh, wow you rebel! Showing images that are blasphemous to Christianity! That is so outrageous and original! I bet that will really offend some people and they might even get angry! This is not childish and overdone, it is really clever and really shows you aren't afraid to make a point! You're really putting yourself in a dangerous position, look out!

Oh come on that was just being sassy.

the central scrutinizer · PostSep 29, 2007#272007-09-29T19:16+00:00

Notes from Home wrote:Oh geez, Archbishop Burke is at it again.

Archdiocese blocks performance at Ivory Theatre

By Robert Kelly and Matthew Hathaway

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

09/28/2007

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Archdiocese today blocked the opening night of "Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll" at the Ivory Theatre after telling a judge the musical revue violated an agreement prohibiting adult entertainment in the former Catholic church....

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument

And the catholic church wonders why people laugh at them.

bastiat · PostSep 29, 2007#282007-09-29T21:33+00:00

Tysalpha wrote:
Bastiat wrote:
Tysalpha wrote:^ Good.

I still think they should add this number to it:

The Church should review material before it makes any public complaints, but they have a legit reason to complain if it is inappropriate.

Oh, wow you rebel! Showing images that are blasphemous to Christianity! That is so outrageous and original! I bet that will really offend some people and they might even get angry! This is not childish and overdone, it is really clever and really shows you aren't afraid to make a point! You're really putting yourself in a dangerous position, look out!

Oh come on that was just being sassy.

Sorry, that was not really directed at you, but the people like Madonna and a lot of modern artists (the Piss Christ) trying to be controversial by attacking Christianity. First of all, it has been done thousands of times, it no longer really makes a point and there are no consequences for it.

If these artists are so bold and shocking, where are their fecal matter displays of Mohammad and Muslim prophets? There's that Gay festival promotion making controversy in the news because of the leather-dominatrix Last Supper depiction. Why didn't they have one of Mohammad? Aren't Muslims an even bigger threat to gays and alternative lifestyles? Perhaps the little girl he married could have the red ball gag in her mouth.

stlmike · PostSep 29, 2007#292007-09-29T21:53+00:00

^Okay... Well, if I saw the title "Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll" on a theatre bill, I would not expect something controversial. Nothing makes me think that they were trying to be controversial with a title like that. I mean, yeah, it's in a church... I suppose the context can make that title seem more threatening or provocative. But, come on. This doesn't sound like a big deal.

jlblues · PostSep 30, 2007#302007-09-30T00:58+00:00

Bastiat wrote:Sorry, that was not really directed at you, but the people like Madonna and a lot of modern artists (the Piss Christ) trying to be controversial by attacking Christianity. First of all, it has been done thousands of times, it no longer really makes a point and there are no consequences for it.

If these artists are so bold and shocking, where are their fecal matter displays of Mohammad and Muslim prophets? There's that Gay festival promotion making controversy in the news because of the leather-dominatrix Last Supper depiction. Why didn't they have one of Mohammad? Aren't Muslims an even bigger threat to gays and alternative lifestyles? Perhaps the little girl he married could have the red ball gag in her mouth.

You do know that Jesus Christ is considered a prophet in Islam, don't you?

But I agree with your point.

threeonefour · PostSep 30, 2007#312007-09-30T02:57+00:00

At least one of Abp. Burke's power plays finally backfired on him.

Well, if anything good came out of this, at least the Ivory Theater got more attention than it may have otherwise.

tysalpha · PostSep 30, 2007#322007-09-30T03:53+00:00

Bastiat wrote:Sorry, that was not really directed at you, but the people like Madonna and a lot of modern artists (the Piss Christ) trying to be controversial by attacking Christianity. First of all, it has been done thousands of times, it no longer really makes a point and there are no consequences for it.

If these artists are so bold and shocking, where are their fecal matter displays of Mohammad and Muslim prophets? There's that Gay festival promotion making controversy in the news because of the leather-dominatrix Last Supper depiction. Why didn't they have one of Mohammad? Aren't Muslims an even bigger threat to gays and alternative lifestyles? Perhaps the little girl he married could have the red ball gag in her mouth.

Thanks for the clarification. I do think there is a place for being provocative and, perhaps, shocking people into questioning the status quo. But there's also being provocative just for the sake of provoking. Even though that's protected speech and completely legal, on a personal level I don't respect it. Or rather, I don't respect the motivation.

Tangent: I do respect Madonna and think she's done more good work than bad as a pop artist. Like a Prayer actually has a good message; but maybe the imagery in the video distracts from that message more than it supports it. But I'll agree with you about 'piss christ'!

As for why other religion's figures aren't treated the same way: Our culture, although secular, is still largely based on a foundation of Christianity. It's natural that those who want to challenge the status quo would do so though it, since it's what they are most familiar with.

I imagine people in other cultures want to use (or "corrupt") their religious imagery the same way. But in many cases they don't have the freedom of speech we have. I'd rather be here than there.

stlmike · PostSep 30, 2007#332007-09-30T21:30+00:00

Sister Wendy Beckett, who is at once an art critic, a consecrated virgin, and a Catholic nun approves of Piss Christ, even if she doesn't find the artist particularly talented: 'Sister Wendy absolutely refuses to see Piss Christ as blasphemous. Instead she reads it as an admonitory work that attempts to say "this is what we are doing to Christ."' I think this just goes to show that just because you find something provocative or shocking and you don't understand the message immediately, it doesn't mean that it was meant to be shocking for the sake of shock. Here we have a Catholic nun who should be most shocked by it and she finds in it a message worthy of approval. No church or religion should be afraid of criticism and commentary. Why should, what is probably a harmless play, be any sort of threat to Catholicism?

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... 13230/pg_2

jcity · PostOct 02, 2007#342007-10-02T02:24+00:00

I just love how "provocative" these pop stars think they are by insulting the Christian religion by smearing piss and sh*t on pictures of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Or Madonna posing on a cross at concerts. I'm not religious at all, even though I grew up going to church- I'm personally agnostic. So, nothing from what I described offends me, but what I DO find offensive is that NO ONE would DARE to do the same to Muhammad in this country! I would LOVE Madonna to TRY to insult THAT religion. Now that would be "provocative"! Of course these people know there are no SERIOUS repercussions for their actions by insulting Christians.

stlmike · PostOct 02, 2007#352007-10-02T04:32+00:00

Well, come on. You are most likely to criticize that which is most apparant to you. Christianity is a major factor of and an influence on western culture. It should be no surprise that American and European artists are more likely to satirize the religions that they are closest to. They have no reason to insult something they are less familiar with firsthand. There are people in the Islamic culture who criticize and critique the religion that they were brought up in. Salman Rushdie, for one. There are plenty of artists that criticize Islam, and it usually is because those artists were brought up in its culture and are therefore more aware of its faults than, say, Madonna is. If you are looking for a genuine, knowledgable, and artistic critique of any religion, I assure you that you will find it in abudance in the underbelly of the culture that it produces. You can't blame an artist for selecting some targets and not others. That is not wrong. It's what artists do. They react to what they see. It's not always good, but it's what they do.

Ivory Theater- former St. Boniface Church in Carondelet

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