Landsdowne Theater to Reopen for First Show Following $21M Restoration
A historic Delco theater will open its doors for the first live show held at the venue since 1987. A multimillion-dollar restoration effort on the Landsdowne Theater is winding down,…
Detail of an empty theater. Several rows of red armchairs
Getty Royalty FreeA historic Delco theater will open its doors for the first live show held at the venue since 1987.
A multimillion-dollar restoration effort on the Landsdowne Theater is winding down, and the theater will reopen to the public beginning on Friday, Aug. 22. Academy Award-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri's one-man show A Bronx Tale will take to the stage.
From Sept. 20 to Dec. 6, eight performances that include tribute bands and Christmas shows are scheduled at the restored theater, with tickets available for purchase online. The Lansdowne Theater, at 31 N. Lansdowne Ave., opened on June 1, 1927, as a movie house and operated for decades before an electrical fire in 1987 forced it to shutter its doors and undergo substantial repairs.
A $21 million effort to restore the structure has been in progress for more than a decade. The project required the complete renovation of the building's structure while restoring the original condition and design of the theater, including its chandeliers, tile work, and paintings.
New plush seats in the auditorium accommodate approximately 1,280 guests. An addition was built at the back of the building to house dressing rooms and production offices, said Rich Mancinelli, vice president of booking and marketing with BRE Presents, in a statement shared with the PhillyVoice.
The community's effort to restoring the theater's legacy was recognized with a Historic Preservation Award from Preservation Pennsylvania. The nonprofit supports the preservation of historic places around the state.
"Every detail — from Art Deco lighting to painted plasterwork — was restored or re-created with care," the award dedication committee noted in a release. "This community-led effort balances preservation and economic viability, proving the power of grassroots determination."
