By Alex Hargis

The United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT) announced that the Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus project would be receiving the top honor in this year’s Architecture Awards Programs. The winning design team includes architectural firm, LIVE Design Group, theatre consulting firm, TheatreDNA, and acoustic firm, SoundArts. Sponsored by the USITT Architecture Commission, the competition has honored the excellence in design in theatre projects for the last twenty-five years. Past judges include industry leaders such as Norman Pfeiffer FAIA, Yasu Toyota, and Malcolm Holzman FAIA, and they evaluate submissions based upon creative image, community contribution, performance venue design, functional operations between front and back of house, as well as other criteria.

“A large part of the success of this project was the powerful vision of Keith Cromwell, Executive Director
for Red Mountain Theatre,” said Craig Krawczyk, President of LIVE Design Group. “Keith’s vision, along
with the contributions from a great team of designers and consultants made the transformative outcome
possible. This award is truly a testament to the power of collaboration.”

Located in the Parkside District of Birmingham, Alabama, Red Mountain Theatre is known for their arts education, developing new work about societal topics such as human rights, and telling traditional stories from a diverse perspective. The 53,000 sq.ft. facility has been adapted from a collection of 100-year-old mechanical supply warehouses into a vibrant performing arts campus that includes a 455-seat flexible theatre with reconfigurable cabaret seating, a black box theatre, four rehearsal rooms, costume shop, an
education wing with a recording studio, and a donor’s lounge with reclaimed sliding fire doors. The nonprofit theatre currently provides arts education to over 17,000 kids from 72 zip codes and serves as an
economic driver for the area hosting 75,000 patrons across 300 events annually. Creating this new home
for the theatre required a community-wide effort and would not have been possible without the vision
and leadership of angel donors Kathryn and Raymond Harbert.

“The heart of what we do as theatre planners and designers is to create homes for artists,” said Michael Ferguson, Founding Principal of TheatreDNA. “For this project, it’s about bringing the organizational family under one roof instead having rehearsal rooms, scene shops, and performance spaces spread throughout the city. Creating a cultural hearth that is practical, affordable, and large enough to accommodate everyone allows the Red Mountain Theatre staff to better serve their community and local artists.”

LIVE Design Group, TheatreDNA, and SoundArts will be presented with the architectural award for Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus at this year’s USITT’s annual conference held in March in St. Louis.

The Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus project received the top honor in this year’s Architecture Awards programs during the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT) annual conference recently concluded in St. Louis. The winning design team included architectural firm, LIVE Design Group, theatre consulting firm, TheatreDNA, and acoustic firm, SoundArts. Sponsored by the USITT Architecture Commission, the competition has honored the excellence in design in theatre projects for the last twenty-five years. Past judges include industry leaders such as Norman Pfeiffer FAIA, Yasu Toyota, and Malcolm Holzman FAIA, and they evaluate submissions based upon creative image, community contribution, performance venue design, functional operations between front and back of house, as well as other criteria.

Alex Hargis is Principal, Marketing & Business Development, for TheatreDNA.

The University of Toledo Athletic Department announced a partnership with global sports and live entertainment company Oak View Group (OVG) to secure a strategic naming rights partner for the Glass Bowl, the school’s historic football stadium located in the heart of its beautiful main campus. 

“We are excited to partner with OVG to identify a naming rights partner that shares our vision of Toledo Athletics and the University as a premier destination,” said Vice President and Director of Athletic Bryan Blair. “The Glass Bowl is not only the historic home of our football program, but it is a focal point of our campus, well-known for bringing great value to this region as its largest outdoor venue. We are excited to lock arms with OVG, and a naming rights partner who will help continue Toledo Athletics’ unprecedented momentum.” 

OVG’s Global Partnership division, which will spearhead the search for a naming rights partner, has successfully secured 19 naming rights partners totaling approximately $3.45B, including UBS Arena in New York City, Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, and the new CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Md.

“We are going to help The University of Toledo – and its student-athletes, students, faculty and alumni – find a naming rights partner who understands and values the Glass Bowl’s rich history, its significance to the community, and the opportunity to renew and reenergize an iconic college venue,” said W. David Livingston, VP of OVG Global Partnerships.

Since 1937, the Glass Bowl has been the home of Toledo Football and has hosted numerous concerts, commencements, and other signature events. The stadium has a seating capacity of over 26,000, including 45 private suites and 300 premium club seats, and hosts upward of 50 events and over 150,000 visitors annually. 

The Glass Bowl has been named the “best football stadium in the MAC” by Bleacher Report and The Sporting News. It has played host to 12 Mid-American Conference championship teams, including the Rockets’ most recent title in 2022.  

Through the years, the Rockets have hosted many major college opponents, including Miami (Fla.), Missouri, Arizona, Colorado, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Purdue, Iowa State and Minnesota. Future home opponents include Kentucky and San Diego State. 

Toledo has been ranked No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference in attendance over each of the past four seasons. The Rockets appeared on national television nine times in 2022, with a total viewing audience of over 6.1 million. 

The City of Toledo and the greater Northwest Ohio community plays host to a thriving business community. Located in the heart of the Midwest, the city features a revitalized downtown attracting millions of dollars in new investment, with approximately six million people residing within a 100-mile radius of Toledo. The Toledo Region features five Fortune 500 companies and has been ranked top 10 for new business investment for six consecutive years.

Photo from University of Toledo Athletics.

Oak View Group (OVG), the owners and operators of Acrisure Arena and Coachella Valley Firebirds, have become a new community partner with the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation and promised a contribution of $1 million in a matching grant toward the final phase of the fundraising campaign to restore the historic theatre.

This donation challenges others to match this gift, helping to raise the remaining funds needed to achieve the theatre’s fundraising goal so that the restoration may soon begin. OVG’s Tod Leiweke and John Bolton, CVE, presented the check to the Plaza Theatre Foundation during a special presentation.

As the first employee of Acrisure Arena, Bolton was instrumental in launching the modern music and sports venue from its early planning to groundbreaking in June 2021 and to the arena’s highly successful landmark opening in December. Further solidifying OVG’s belief and investment in the future potential of the Palm Springs area as a major entertainment destination, Bolton will continue this commitment with reviving the Plaza Theatre for new generations in the Coachella Valley.

“I’m honored to transition the energy we used to make Acrisure Arena into the world-class venue it is today and be involved with the Plaza Theatre Foundation and their efforts to restore one of the most iconic venues in the Coachella Valley,” Bolton said. “To have Acrisure Arena and the Coachella Valley Firebirds adopt the Plaza Theatre as a core community fundraising project is such a tremendous development and exciting for everyone that is involved.”

Pictured: John Bolton, CVE, third from right, leads the charge to restore the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre.

By Aren Murray

Tixly, the SAAS CRM that brings intuitive efficiency to ticketing, announced that their US presence is expanding with the hiring of Sam Chacon to fill the newly created position of Client Service Specialist.

Chacon brings to Tixly eight years of experience in leadership within multiple arts centers including the Tobin Center of San Antonio, the Orpheum Theatre Group of Memphis, and Shea’s Performing Arts Center of Buffalo.

“I’m very excited to be joining the Tixly team as we continue to grow in the United States,” Chacon said. “Tixly is efficient, flexible, and visually streamlined to make ticketing easier for the venue and customers. I look forward to helping performing arts organizations in the United States experience everything Tixly has to offer.”

Chacon’s experience in the arts industry in several states in the US will expand Tixly’s foundation and commitment to quality service in the culture market.

Chacon had a desire to be a leader in fine arts early on, leading him to a degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas. As he developed this passion, he found a desire to serve in an administrative capacity, sharing the mission of the arts through ticketing.

“The addition of Sam Chacon to the US Tixly team brings us such pleasure to announce. Sam’s amazing skills exhibited through quickly understanding ticketing needs and addressing them with the appropriate technological answers makes us delighted to have him assisting our clients,” said Aren Murray, Operations Manager – US at Tixly.

By Jennifer Wilson

Leading secure digital ticket delivery service True Tickets announced a partnership with Walton Arts Center, operator of Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP) in Rogers, Arkansas. This partnership is aimed at revolutionizing the ticketing experience for patrons, integrating the True Tickets service into the organization’s digital ticketing platform to provide a seamless, user-friendly process for purchasing and managing tickets.

The partnership between True Tickets and Walton Arts Center is a natural fit as both organizations are dedicated to providing exceptional live entertainment experiences. True Tickets offers secure, contactless digital ticket delivery and control over how each ticket is transacted and managed. Walton Arts Center with its performing arts center and amphitheater is renowned for the world-class performers and the shows that it presents.

“We are thrilled to be working with Walton Arts Center, a truly iconic presence in Northwest Arkansas’ cultural and entertainment scene,” said Ken Lesnik, True Tickets Head of Business Development. “Our service is designed to keep digital ticketing seamless, straightforward, and secure, and we are excited to bring that to the patrons of the Walton Arts Center.”

During the past three decades, Walton Arts Center has become Arkansas’ largest and busiest performing arts presenter bringing touring Broadway, live music, and dance to the region. The Walmart AMP, a Walton Arts Center venue since February 2011, is Arkansas’ premier outdoor concert venue with headlining artists from all genres.


“We are excited to partner with True Tickets to bring digital ticketing to the Walmart AMP and Walton Arts Center for the new seasons,” said Jeff Mann, chief operating officer of Walton Arts Center. “We are constantly looking for ways to improve the ticketing experience for our patrons and this partnership is a major step in that direction.”

Jennifer Wilson is Public Relations Director at Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP.