The nearly 75-year-old Venice Theatre deserves some major accolades.
After 2022’s Hurricane Ian destroyed its primary performance space, the Jervey Theatre, and caused much more wreckage, the organization rallied, big time. The theatre will be producing a full season of performances at the temporary,130-seat Raymond Center and its 90-seat black box Pinkerton Theatre.
“The Raymond Center is hosting the mainstage family-friendly musicals and plays that would have been at the 432-seat Jervey Theatre,” says new Executive Director (ED) Kristopher Geddie. There will also be Venice Theatre concerts at three other local venues: Venice Community Center, Pine View School Auditorium, and The Venice Performing Arts Center.
It's a great lineup of shows overall, says Kristopher.
The 2023-24 Season’s performances include "Sounds of Soul: Motown and Beyond" at the Venice Community Center on November 27, 2023, and “A Christmas Carol” at the Raymond Center from December 1-20, 2023. Parrotheads rejoice! In what now can be seen as a tribute to the recently departed Jimmy Buffet, “Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville,” runs Jan. 19-Feb. 18, 2024 at The Raymond Center.
The Pinkerton will continue staging its more inventive programming, adds Kristopher, including a festival of three one-person plays called “SoloFest” in December, and 'The Enchanted Bookshop" in April, 2024.
Former Executive Director and current Restoration Supervisor Murray Chase wants to let the community know that restoring Venice Theatre is going to be more challenging than originally thought, for a number of reasons. That includes the need to upgrade building and electrical codes to modern standards, and the escalation of the cost and availability of building materials. “We can’t (just) replace what we had,” he says.
To buy tickets for the full season lineup of performances, and to consider making a donation towards Venice Theatre's restoration, go to venicetheatre.org.