The Robert Kirk Walker Community Theatre, a little known and rarely used space on an upper floor at the Memorial Auditorium, has seen significant improvements to its infrastructure and will be actively programmed with live shows in the coming months.
The Tivoli Foundation, established by the city of Chattanooga in 2015 to oversee the Tivoli Theatre, Memorial Auditorium and the Walker Theatre, has invested in updates to the space, including a new state-of-the-art sound system, new lighting rigs and spotlights, updated pit seating, concessions and lobby area, and will begin presenting shows there in October. With 850 seats, the Walker offers a more intimate space than the 1,700-seat Tivoli or 3,800-seat auditorium.
"The Walker Theatre is a wonderful venue and has been a community asset for decades," said the foundation's director of development, Nick Wilkinson.
"The Tivoli Theatre Foundation is excited to invest significant resources back into the Walker and build on the successful revitalization taking place throughout all of our theaters. The Walker Theatre will further enhance our ability to bring world-class entertainment to Chattanooga, and we are thrilled about our upcoming lineup."
In the two years since the foundation took over operation of the venues, it has worked with AC Entertainment in Knoxville to book such high-profile performers as Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, Brian Wilson, John Prine, My Morning Jacket and a full Broadway season.
Plans are being finalized for the announcement, perhaps next week, of the first show to be booked in the updated Walker Theatre. The theater underwent extensive structural renovations in 2012-13 and has been used for church services, dance recitals, film screenings and theater productions.
The foundation also announced last week that single-performance tickets for shows in its second Broadway series season will go on sale Monday.
The 2017-18 shows are: "The Sound of Music," Oct. 27-28; "Kinky Boots," Dec. 12-14; "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella," Jan. 26-28; "Jersey Boys," March 9-11; "Motown the Musical," April 17-19; and "Stomp," May 11-12.
For ticket information, visit TivoliChattanooga.com.