The Reopening of the Joy Theater
Downtown Landmark Features Live Music Shows
The Joy Theater, located at 1200 Canal Street at the corner of Elks Place in the heart of downtown New Orleans, reopened after an eight-year hiatus and features live music and other forms of live entertainment from some of New Orleans' top musicians and performers.
The Joy, which closed in 2003 in the face of competition from movie megaplexes in the New Orleans Metro Area, was once among the four historic downtown movie houses and one of about fifty throughout the city. Inundated by floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Joy recently underwent a $5 million renovation by its development company, NOLA Theatre District LLC, and is now open for the business of live entertainment. Screens will be in place behind the stage for digital/video projections.
The theater also will host comedy tours and be available for private functions and corporate events. The theater's art deco exterior and landmark marquee remain intact, restored it to the way they looked when the Joy opened in February 1947, but the interior of the theater has been completely remodeled. The Joy features state-of-the-art sound and lighting, video screens, snack and drink bars and off-stage dressing rooms for the performers and crew.
The balcony of the old theater has been restored and houses 253 permanent seats. The floor will accommodate 405 chairs with flexible floor plans able to seat more or less as needs require.
With the Joy's reopening and the restoration work going on across Canal Street at the Saenger Theatre, two of the four one-time downtown movie houses are expected to be open within the year. The other two theaters, the Orpheum and the Loew's State Palace, remain shuttered while efforts are underway to get them back into commerce. The Saenger will focus primarily on Broadway-style theatrical productions and the Joy will zero in on live music and smaller shows so that the two theaters are not in direct competition with each other.
The Joy Theater is conveniently located within walking distance of the French Quarter and downtown hotels and is on the Canal Street streetcar line.
Coming Up
On Saturday, January 7, the Joy Theater will present "Glitz: The Art of Female Impersonation." The show will begin at 9:00 p.m.
And, on Friday the Thirteenth, "the joint will be jumpin' for Joy" when the popular Joint's Jumpin' show takes the stage at 8:00 p.m. A celebration of classic New Orleans Rhythm & Blues from the 1950s and '60s, the show will feature as special guest emcee New Orleans native comedian Jodi Borrello.
The 90-minute show features songs and stories about the Crescent City's huge contribution to the world of popular music half a century ago. Vocalists Luther Kent, Tony Owens, Johnny Vindigni, Gina Brown, Danon Smith and Tereasa B belt out hit after hit by New Orleans artists from that Golden Era, accompanied by an all-star band featuring some of New Orleans' top musicians.
Pianist Lawrence Sieberth is the musical director, accompanied by Anthony Brown (guitar), Donald Ramsey (bass), Jeffrey "Jellybean" Alexander (drums), Roderick Paulin (tenor sax), Alonzo Bowens (baritone sax), Rick Trolsen (trombone), Barney Floyd (trumpet) and Bobby Campo (trumpet).
Other shows coming up at the Joy are as follows:
- January 14: Cowboy Mouth
- January 26: Percy Sledge
- January 28: Little River Band
Valet parking is offered by the Joy Theater and there is plenty of available parking in nearby lots and garages. Tickets for all shows can be ordered through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or through their website, www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information go to the Joy Theater website at www.thejoytheater.com. |
