A New Vision for the El Rey Theater
Imagine a lively, welcoming downtown Chico venue for cinema, theater, dance, music, and community arts. Imagine film festivals, classic repertory programming, and visiting filmmakers; performing artists from around the country and the world; a homegrown showcase for Chico community arts and beyond. Imagine an elegant bistro within the theater instead of a popcorn concession!
Located close to the California State University campus in Chico’s thriving downtown, the El Rey boasts 950 seats; a small stage that could be enlarged; two attached storefront outlets that could house dining or retail; and the largest single screen still intact in northern California. With these assets, the El Rey could fill a performance-venue niche between Chico State’s Laxson Auditorium, at 1,337 seats, and smaller local theaters, cabarets, nightclubs and cinemas.
ERTA’s vision for the future of the El Rey Theater includes these multiuse possibilities:
- Top-notch repertory cinema programming, from Hollywood classics to international fare to “theme festivals” highlighting movie eras, performers, series, etc.
- First- and second-run film programming that fills a niche not served by Cinemark’s commercial screens or the Pageant’s small art-house screen.
- An annual film festival bringing new and exciting films and filmmakers to our region.
- Addition of a larger thrust stage to accommodate full-scale theater productions.
- High quality live music, comedy, dance, and performing arts.
- A showcase for community youth and school groups.
- A “dinner theater” or “cabaret” setting that could be configured when needed.
- A venue for special events such as conventions, galas, and exhibitions.
These are a few of our ideas—WHAT ARE YOURS? SHARE YOUR VISION FOR THE EL REY’S FUTURE WITH US!