A New Era

HISTORIC THEATRES REUNITE

DOWNTOWN ICONS CREATE NEW COLLABORATIVE

 

Springfield, MO - Two of the most established names in regional entertainment have reunited to create a new collaborative. The Gillioz Center For Arts & Entertainment has entered into a management agreement with the History Museum On The Square to manage and program the Historic Fox Theatre on Park Central Square.

 

The Gillioz Center For Arts & Entertainment is a 501c-3 non-profit that owns the Historic Gillioz Theatre located at 325 Park Central East. The property has tenants beyond the theatre venue that includes Dublin’s Pass, the Southwest Missouri Film Office, Two Black Ravens, Mosaic Arts Collective, Ozark Lyric Opera, Missouri Jazz Orchestra, and SATO48.

 

The History Museum On The Square is a 501c-3 non-profit that utilized the Fox Theatre as a base of operations during the construction period of their state-of-the-art facilities located at 154 Park Central Square and featuring both permanent and temporary exhibits. Once the operation transitioned to the new facilities in 2019, the Fox Theatre became home to select special events and educational opportunities facilitated by the History Museum and intermittent rental programming. Most recently the Fox Theatre was home to Springfield Contemporary Theatre.

 

Springfield Contemporary Theatre announced they were ceasing operations indefinitely in July.

 

Sean FitzGibbons, Executive Director of The History Museum On The Square seized an opportunity the abrupt announcement provided. “While unexpected, the SCT announcement escalated conversations that I had entered with the Gillioz months prior. I had spoken with Gillioz management on more than one occasion regarding the arts and entertainment corridor that exists in downtown Springfield. I reached out to Geoff immediately and we agreed the time was right to act.”

 

Geoff Steele is Executive Director of the Gillioz Center For Arts & Entertainment, assuming the role in September 2014, roughly a year after the Gillioz had gone through bankruptcy in 2013. In the three years that followed Steele saw the Gillioz emerge to national renown, including a 2017 Academy of Country Music acknowledgement as a top five venue under 3000 seats, sharing the category with venues like the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, Austin City Limits in Austin, Texas, Hoyt Sherman in Des Moines, Iowa, and the Playstation Theatre in New York, New York.

 

“The opportunity is perfect,” says Steele,”The history of the two venues, the ability to diversify programming and create new opportunities to bring artists in to our community in another historic setting is an intentional and intelligent design. The conversation with Sean was one of the easiest conversations I’ve ever had. We both saw the potential having these properties collaborate would create for our community. The Fox and Gillioz worked together years ago, sharing staff and promotion as respective movie houses. Now, these two established names are creating a new era of memories for residents and visitors to our city.”

 

FitzGibbons elaborates, “Ownership of the Fox Theatre remains unchanged. What we have done is secured the Gillioz culture, from booking and promotion of national artists to the whole patron experience. We’ll still be hosting special events and fundraisers in the Fox Theatre, but Gillioz will bring their expertise and allow our Museum staff to focus on the Museum experience.”

 

Additionally, the Fox Theatre will have upgrades in the lobby and some upgrades that the public won’t see backstage. Backstage work has begun, and lobby renovations are scheduled through the end of the year.

 

“We’re on a mission to destroy silos in the creative community. Springfield is rich in talent and leaning into these areas is the answer to many of the questions our city and leadership have been asking regarding attracting business and retaining a workforce in our area. Seeing the Fox and Gillioz names operating in tandem is a strong initial step, with much more to follow,”  Steele said.

 

The changes are taking effect immediately, with programming announcements expected as early as this week. The Fox Theatre website will be undergoing significant upgrades, and access to more information will be across Gillioz and Fox social media platforms.

 

FitzGibbons summed up the project this way, “The Fox and Gillioz have been mainstays in downtown Springfield for generations. Seeing this new season of collaboration is just another reminder that theatre can lead the way in cultural conversations. While it seems so en vogue to focus on the divisive, we’re doing what theatre has always been able to do; create unity.”