Theater Plans
Originally built as a 1,200-seat vaudeville theater in 1914, the New Pantages Theater at the Rocky Mountain Building will seat approximately 200 - 500 people and will serve as a much-needed mid-sized performance venue in the heart of downtown Great Falls. It will also become the home for Great Falls Public Radio, KGPR. The New Pantages’ plans have been specifically developed to avoid duplication of other venue spaces.
The New Pantages will be available for music arts, performing groups, children’s programs and more. In addition, the New Pantages will also present film and is exploring the possibility of HD theatrical performances associated with several public radio programs, like This American Life and A Prairie Home Companion, which have been made available to public radio stations. Through a programming partnership agreement with Great Falls Public Radio, these kinds of events, as well as concerts by emerging artists and some national public radio shows like E-Town and Mountain Stage, which travel to NPR member station communities, would be available to our patrons.
Because the building was gutted in 1966 to turn much of the theater space into a parking garage ~ and then the fire of 2009, only the outside shell and beautiful façade of the original Pantages remain. As a performing and media arts venue, the grand entrance and lobby will be on the first floor, along with a staging area for catering, storage and practice booths.
The upstairs space will have retractable, telescopic theater seating so that the space can accommodate formal theater events, films and performances, as well as dinner theater. We are working with architect Randy Hafer as project lead and building co-owner. Randy has over 25 years of experience, leading historic preservation projects throughout the state of Montana.
The New Pantages will be available for music arts, performing groups, children’s programs and more. In addition, the New Pantages will also present film and is exploring the possibility of HD theatrical performances associated with several public radio programs, like This American Life and A Prairie Home Companion, which have been made available to public radio stations. Through a programming partnership agreement with Great Falls Public Radio, these kinds of events, as well as concerts by emerging artists and some national public radio shows like E-Town and Mountain Stage, which travel to NPR member station communities, would be available to our patrons.
Because the building was gutted in 1966 to turn much of the theater space into a parking garage ~ and then the fire of 2009, only the outside shell and beautiful façade of the original Pantages remain. As a performing and media arts venue, the grand entrance and lobby will be on the first floor, along with a staging area for catering, storage and practice booths.
The upstairs space will have retractable, telescopic theater seating so that the space can accommodate formal theater events, films and performances, as well as dinner theater. We are working with architect Randy Hafer as project lead and building co-owner. Randy has over 25 years of experience, leading historic preservation projects throughout the state of Montana.
An Economic Catalyst
The renovation and restoration of theaters as performance venues has proved to be a successful catalyst in downtown revitalizations in cities across America. The Rialto in Deer Lodge, the Babcock in Billings, the Wilma in Missoula and the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox in Spokane are examples of just such anchors in the heart of those communities.
A vibrant cultural atmosphere makes a city a better place for all its residents, and an attractive and competitive market for new and growing businesses. Just as the renovation of the Arvon Building has had a positive and energizing impact on downtown Great Falls, the restoration of the New Pantages will contribute to downtown Great Falls’ urban renaissance and will become a prominent anchor of the dynamic Rocky Mountain Building complex. The New Pantages will:
A vibrant cultural atmosphere makes a city a better place for all its residents, and an attractive and competitive market for new and growing businesses. Just as the renovation of the Arvon Building has had a positive and energizing impact on downtown Great Falls, the restoration of the New Pantages will contribute to downtown Great Falls’ urban renaissance and will become a prominent anchor of the dynamic Rocky Mountain Building complex. The New Pantages will:
- Contribute to the vitality of downtown Great Falls and Central Montana with an economic impact in excess of (???) annually;
- Revitalize an entire city block in one of the lowest income Census tracts in the city and in the City Commission designated area of urban blight; and
- Create XXX construction jobs over 18 months of restoration.
Vision Statement
The New Pantages shall:
- Foster an environment that awakens, entertains, educates and challenges the audiences of the community;
- Encourage the development and collaboration of community performing arts organizations and assist persons of all ages, cultures and economic backgrounds to explore their creative and artistic possibilities.
- Enrich and connect education and family experiences through performing and media arts, resulting in increased enjoyment and life-long participation in the arts.
- Serve as a social and cultural meeting place for families, visitors and residents of Cascade County, with diverse economic and cultural backgrounds.
- Enhance downtown Great Falls as a cultural center, generating economic benefits for the city and surrounding communities.