From yesterdays Post.......



By Judith Newmark POST-DISPATCH THEATER CRITIC 03/11/2007



Two new theaters are scheduled to open here in October, a strong indication that the venue wars have ceased — at least, for now.



The St. Louis Actors' Studio is behind the Gaslight Theatre on Boyle Avenue, housed in a commercial building in the old Gaslight Square area. And Rothschild Allen, a development company, is turning the old St. Boniface Catholic Church into the Ivory Theatre.



The Ivory



Where: 7622 Michigan Avenue (at Schirmer Street, near Ivory Avenue)



Who's behind it: Rothschild Allen. That's developer Pete Rothschild, a longtime macher in the Central West End, and business partner Mike Allen. They are quick to say they are not theater artists. They plan to turn the old St. Boniface Catholic Church — one of the churches that the Archdiocese of St. Louis sold in 2005 — into a modern, versatile performing-arts facility. They have plans for neighboring buildings as well.



On stage: New Line Theatre, a mainstay of the downtown ArtLoft, will be in residence. (HotCity, the other ArtLoft resident, will remain there at least through this year.) Hydeware and the NonProphet Theatre Company will perform at the Ivory, too. Those troupes share a savvy, loose-limbed sensibility; other troupes also may use the space.



Size: 240 seats, plus an area at the back of the house where theatergoers can sit at tables, cabaret-style.



Neighborhood: A residential area for centuries, Carondelet used to have industry, too. It still has lots of big, gracious old houses, more affordable than in other, tonier neighborhoods. Lately, it's generated more interest because of the nearby Pinnacle casino complex, the Loughborough Commons shopping center and new housing. "It's a magnet," Rothschild said, "prime for redevelopment."



Parking: A fenced lot directly behind the theater.



Restaurant: Rothschild Allen is turning the old St. Boniface School next door into a restaurant.



Classes: Children's classes will be offered, and community groups will be encouraged to use the space for shows or presentations. A theater brings in audiences from all over, but it's also important for a theater to welcome its neighbors, Rothschild said

Does this mean that New Line is leaving Downtown?

The last time I read about this, Rothschild was merely considering the idea of opening a theater in old Saint Boniface.



It's good to see that plans are moving forward. I'm always skeptical when Rothschild starts talking about timelines and completion dates, but hopefully we'll see this project come to life soon. Carondelet could really use the shot in the arm that this and the proposed neighboring developments could provide.

Construction has started to be completed this fall. I also received a liquor license petition for a new establishment across from the theater. One of the co-owners was a Washington Ave pioneer with 2 clubs. Looks like things are starting to heat up.

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 passed by the former church today & saw people what looked like new doors wide open & some work being done on what would appear to be the lobby, can't tell much from the outside, but work is definitely being done. Didn't see any action at the school next door. There's some greenspace in front of the church that seems like a good place to incorporate something into this project, maybe a sculpture or statue representing performing arts.



I've always thought this area was prime for redevelopment, lot's of good blocks with old storefronts & apartment/office space above them. Drive through the area now & it definitely looks like it's in the early stages of rebirth.

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.

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 remember picking up my dinner beverages at the bait shop down the street.

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

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.

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>

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

^ Good.



I still think they should add this number to it: