Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts

The Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts (MTCA) is a historic concert and entertainment venue in downtown Columbia, Missouri, occupying most of a city block between 9th Street and Locust and Elm Streets. Designed after the Opéra Garnier by the Boller Brothers, it opened on October 5, 1928, as a movie palace and vaudeville stage. It is Columbia's only surviving pre-Depression movie palace and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The theatre is the resident home of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra and is frequently used by University of Missouri and civic groups. In 2011, the University of Missouri began a three-year lease of the facility, and as of July 1, 2014, the University took over ownership. It is one of the main performance venues for the University of Missouri School of Music. The venue hosts a variety of arts education programs and organizations, including the MOSS Youth Orchestra, MOSS Junior Strings, MOSS Children's Choir, University Concert Series, University of Missouri School of Music, Plowman Chamber Music Competition, and the True/False Film Festival.

The Missouri Theatre opened on October 5, 1928, built at a cost of over $400,000 (equivalent to over $4.5 million today). Advertisements in the Columbia Daily Tribune proclaimed the "Formal Opening of your new Missouri Theatre—Friday Evening… A $400,000 Showhouse of Unrivaled Beauty and Extravagant Setting in Central Missouri. The Magnificent Splendor of This Palace of Amusement Will Dazzle and Thrill You." Telegrams were received from United Artists in Hollywood, as well as from actors such as Charlie Chaplin and Gloria Swanson, congratulating the managers. On opening night, performers included The Missouri Rockettes (later to become the Radio City Rockettes) and Jack Keith and his Missouri Orchestra. It was rumored that Bob Hope also made an appearance. The theatre operated as a movie palace and vaudeville stage until 1953. Because of its size and extravagance, it was difficult to maintain and was leased to Commonwealth Theaters, Inc. in 1953, who operated it as a single-screen movie theater until 1983. In 1979, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The advent of multiscreen cinemas in Columbia led to the eventual purchase of the theatre by the Missouri Symphony Society on January 7, 1988. In 2002, the Missouri Symphony Society began plans to transform the Missouri Theatre into the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts (MTCA). The Missouri Symphony Society experienced record-breaking success in 2005 with the Hot Summer Nights Music Festival as more than 11,200 music lovers attended concerts featuring Maestro Kirk Trevor, the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, and world-renowned guest artists throughout its eight-week summer season. On July 28, 2007, the restoration of the Missouri Theatre began after the conclusion of the Hot Summer Nights Music Festival. The following summer, the fully restored Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts re-opened with Tony Bennett and the Hot Summer Nights Music Festival. The renovations included a new second floor with administrative offices and a 2,500 sq. ft. rooftop patio. In 2011, Missouri Theatre became home to the University Concert Series, and acts as a recital and performance venue for many University of Missouri School of Music performance groups. The Box Office is operated by Event Production Services, a department of Operation Auxiliary and Services in the division of Campus Operations at the University of Missouri. As of July 1, 2014, the University of Missouri took over ownership of the Missouri Theatre.

• 2014

  University of Missouri takes over ownership on July 1.

• 2011

  University of Missouri begins a three-year lease; theatre becomes home to the University Concert Series.

• 2008

  Restored theatre re-opens with Tony Bennett and the Hot Summer Nights Music Festival.

• 2007

  Restoration begins on July 28.

• 2002

  Plans begin to transform the theatre into the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts.

• 1988

  Purchased by the Missouri Symphony Society on January 7.

• 1979

  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1953

  Leased to Commonwealth Theaters, Inc., operating as a single-screen movie theater until 1983.

• 1928

  The Missouri Theatre opens on October 5.

Historic performing arts center and community cultural hub

Product categories. Concert and entertainment venue · Arts education programs · Theater rentals

1. 1Missouri Theatre (Columbia, Missouri) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts - Wikidatawikidata.org