Forty years and millions of dollars later, the Lansdowne Theater, completely restored and refurbished, will open once again be open for business this month, writes Molly McVety for PhillyVoice.
The theater’s nonprofit owner, Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation, and its tenant, BRE Presents, announced the theater will reopen Friday, Aug. 22, with Academy Award-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri’s one-man show “A Bronx Tale.”
Eight more performances are booked from Sept. 20 to Dec. 6, that include tribute bands and Christmas shows.
The Lansdowne Theater, located at 84 S. Lansdowne Ave., opened June 1, 1927 as a movie house and operated for decades until an electrical fire in 1987 forced it to close.
A long-fought campaign to restore the theater was launched with the creation of the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation.
A $21 million plan was hatched to restore the theater to its original 1927 look. Ground was broken in 2023.
The building’s structure was overhauled, and its original appearance restored, including its chandelier arrangements, tile work and paintings.
Plush seats were installed and an addition added for dressing rooms and production offices.
“It’s like a brand new, 100-year-old building. It’s really rare,” said Rich Mancinelli, vice president of booking and marketing with BRE Presents.
Read more about the reopening of the Lansdowne Theater in PhillyVoice.
