Page 30 - Summer 2022 inLEAGUE with 46th National Conference Program

Ramble TheaTRe TouRs (in oRdeR of TouRs)

AKRON CIVIC THEATRE The 2,466-seat Akron Civic Theatre opened in 1929 as a
Loew’s movie house. In 1965, the facility was renamed
Akron Civic Theatre. In 2002, the Civic undertook a $22
million capital project to restore the theater and completed
most of the work with the exception of the grand lobby
and entry arcade. In 2018, the theater launched an $8.5
million capital campaign to complete the restoration, add
a new box office and administrative offices and build the
Knight Stage (200+ capacity) in an empty historic building
attached and accessible to the main theater on the
north side. A few months later, the Civic added another
performance space called Wild Oscar’s, a 45-seat micro-
venue on the back side of the theater’s building along
Lock 4’s Garden Alley. Welcoming, on average, more
than 150,000 patrons and 1,500 performing artists each
year, the Civic hosts 250+ events annually and is a leading
contributor to Summit County’s creative economy.

VARIETY THEATRE The Variety Theatre often referred to as “The Lady on
Lorain”, opened in 1927 with seating for 1900, hosting both
vaudeville shows and movies. At one time, it featured a
Kimball organ and an orchestra pit, now covered. The
theatre was constructed as part of a building complex
which included storefront businesses and apartments.

The Variety was operated by Warner Bros. as a movie
theatre until the early 1950s. In the 1970s and 1980s, it
became a concert venue, with bands such as Metallica,
R.E.M., and The Red Hot Chili Peppers playing there. It
was last used by Cleveland Wrestleplex, before closing in
1990. The Westown Community Development Corporation
acquired the theatre in 2009 and, at their direction, The
Friends of the Historic Variety Theatre began fundraising
for major renovations to the theatre, upgrading both the electrical system and the roof. The original
marquee had been destroyed by a tornado in 1953 and was not replaced until 2016, when a replica was
built and installed. Purchased in May 2022 by entrepreneur Kelly Flamos, the Variety will be restored for use
as a live music venue, also welcoming other forms of art, performance, and community events. Designed
by Cleveland architect Nicola Petti, the Variety is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was
named a City of Cleveland landmark.

MALTZ PERFORMING ARTS CENTER One of only a few projects of its kind in the country, the
Maltz Performing Arts Center was created through a historic
partnership between Case Western Reserve University and
The Temple – Tifereth Israel. The extraordinary generosity and
vision of Milton and Tamar Maltz, together with like-minded
philanthropic leaders, has resulted in this extraordinary,
unprecedented project on the university’s campus.

Historic Silver Hall, with seating for 1,200 people, showcases
students from Case Western Reserve’s music department,
whose 19 ensembles include a symphony orchestra; an Early
Music vocal ensemble; Baroque chamber ensembles and
orchestra; ensembles for jazz, wind, and popular music; and
the Case Concert Choir.

PAGE 28 | INLEAGUE League of Historic American Theatres