Curtain up! Rio Grande Theatre returns in July with plays, musicals, movies and more

Rio Grande Theatre (RGT) Venue Manager Chris Faivre (FAY-ver) and his staff have done a lot of work during the pandemic to make the theater an even more welcoming Downtown venue. And, after a lengthy shutdown, the historic RGT will reopen with live theater, movies and other programming in July.

The theater’s newly renovated ADA section now includes six disabled-accessible spaces and six spaces for companions, Faivre said. Previous renovations were made to the stage, the lobby and the concession area. The theater, which is owned and operated by the City of Las Cruces, also has a full bar. Including its balcony, RGT seats about 390.

“We are ready to move forward,” Faivre said.

Live theater returns to RGT with productions of “The Mad Ones,” by Bree Lowdermilk and Kait Kerrigan, running July 2-18, and “The Complete History of America (Abridged)” by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, running on Wednesdays from July 7-28. Both are presented by Las Cruces-based Blank Conversations Theatre Company, founded by New Mexico State University Theatre Department student Gus Sanchez.

RGT provided a venue for a Children’s Theatre of the Mesilla Valley (ACT) and Doña Ana Repertory Theatre (DART) productions before Covid-19 and looks forward to working with them and other local production companies as live, indoor theater returns, Faivre said.

RGT’s Classic Film Series and Saturday Kids Dollar Movies both return July 24 with, respectively, “Dr. Strangelove (or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb)” and “The Lion King.”

RGT will also have a special Halloween triple feature and movies during Space Festival Week.

“We’re always looking for fun content,” he said.

Faivre has also begun booking national and regional performers and productions into the theater.

A Blues and Rock Series at RGT will include Marc Black’s History of the 50’s and 60’s through Popular Song, Sept. 25; Oldies but Goodies, Oct. 2; and Eli Cook performing June 3, 2022.

The Mr. Skynyrd Band, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, will perform Aug. 27. Stairway to Zeppelin, a Led Zeppelin tribute band, will perform Feb. 12, 2022. The Long Run (As the Alter Eagles), an Eagles tribute band, will perform March 25-26, 2022.

As performers make up dates that were canceled across the country and around the world because of the pandemic, it will likely take the industry 12 to 18 months to recover from the backlog of makeup dates due to the shutdown, Faivre said.

In addition to serving as RGT venue manager, Faivre is also interim Downtown coordinator for the City of Las Cruces. He is hopeful the Downtown plaza across the street from RGT will fully reopen July 1. On that date, the state lifted the color-coded Covid-19 threat-assessment framework it has used since July 2020, and also removed restrictions on businesses and on public gatherings. That means RGT and other theaters can reopen at full capacity.

Faivre said the city will redo the parking lot directly behind RGT, which will include upgraded, larger restroom facilities relocated nearer to La Placita, the walkway south of RGT. Work will begin July 6.

RGT is located at 211 N. Main St. Downtown.

For tickets to shows and movies and for more information, call 575-541-2290. The RGT website,  www.riograndetheatre.org, always has at least six months of events listed.