While the pandemic shut down most live entertainment venues, the folks with the Tivoli Theatre Foundation used the time to make significant improvements to the Memorial Auditorium. Those improvements are one reason why the foundation decided to move the entire Broadway at the Tivoli season to the larger auditorium for the 2021-’22 season.
“It’s a chance to show it off,” said foundation Executive Director Nick Wilkinson. “It’s also a chance to hopefully get people used to the idea of coming here when we get some of the bigger Broadway shows like ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Wicked.'”
The improvements are part of a master plan to improve both the Memorial Auditorium and the Tivoli Theatre in the coming years. Since taking over fundraising and management of the city-owned venues, the Tivoli Theatre Foundation has spent nearly $10 million on improvements at both places, with $2.5 million being put into the auditorium.
The foundation is now poised to begin a $42 million renovation of the Tivoli Center on Broad Street.
That work is set to begin at the start of the new year, which is another reason for shifting the Broadway series to Memorial. The bulk of the work will be done in the building next to the theater but will add new bathrooms and concession spaces that are easily accessed by upstairs and downstairs audience members. It will also create new spaces for outside arts groups to use, as well as green rooms, offices and rehearsal spaces for theater events and groups in the center.