Abraham Chavez Theatre

Last updated
Abraham Chavez Theatre
Abraham Chavez Theatre
Address El Paso, Texas
United States
Coordinates 31°45′27″N106°29′26″W / 31.75750°N 106.49056°W / 31.75750; -106.49056
Owner City of El Paso
Operator ASM Global
Capacity 2,500
Construction
Opened197?[ clarification needed ][ year needed ]
ArchitectCarroll & Daeuble / Garland & Hilles
Website
elpasolive.com/venues/abraham_chavez_theatre OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Abraham Chavez Theatre, known simply as the Chavez Theatre, is a 2,500-seat concert hall located in El Paso, Texas. It is adjacent to the Williams Convention Center. Its lobby features a three-story glass main entrance. The Abraham Chavez Theatre is named after Maestro Abraham Chavez, who was the longtime conductor of the El Paso Symphony. It was built in the early 1970s, with the framework of the curved structure of the theatre visible under construction in scenes shot at the nearby Laughlin Hotel (since demolished) in the 1972 Steve McQueen film The Getaway . [1] [2]

Famous people who have performed here include Gabriel Iglesias, George Lopez and Joshua Ryan.

Inside, the theatre has a 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) lobby and a 40-by-56-foot stage as well as 14 dressing rooms. The theater's seating is in three levels. There is also a meeting room adjacent to the theater.

Events held at Chavez Theatre include concerts, Broadway shows, graduation ceremonies, performances of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, and other special events.

By late 2016, though the theatre was under consideration to be the designated home of the El Paso Mexican-American Cultural Center, a significant impediment was the need for "extensive repairs" to the half-century-old building. [3] Repeated City Council cancellations of El Paso's proposed Downtown Arena project may yet cause those funds to be reallocated to improvement of the Chavez Theatre, among other city facilities. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Paso, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

El Paso is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. The 2020 population of the city from the U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the U.S., the most populous city in West Texas, and the sixth-most populous city in Texas. Its metropolitan statistical area covers all of El Paso and Hudspeth counties in Texas, and had a population of 868,859 in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">F. Murray Abraham</span> American actor

F. Murray Abraham is an American actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he has received an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for a BAFTA Award, four Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award. He came to prominence for his portrayal of Antonio Salieri in the drama film Amadeus (1984) for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.

<i>The Getaway</i> (1972 film) 1972 American action thriller film by Sam Peckinpah

The Getaway is a 1972 American action thriller film based on the 1958 novel by Jim Thompson. The film was directed by Sam Peckinpah, written by Walter Hill, and stars Steve McQueen, Ali MacGraw, Ben Johnson, Al Lettieri and Sally Struthers. The plot follows imprisoned mastermind robber Carter "Doc" McCoy, whose wife Carol conspires for his release on the condition they rob a bank in Texas. A double-cross follows the crime, and the McCoys are forced to flee for Mexico with the police and criminals in hot pursuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L.A. Live</span> Entertainment complex located in downtown Los Angeles, California, US

L.A. Live is an entertainment complex in the South Park District of Downtown Los Angeles, California. It is adjacent to the Crypto.com Arena and Los Angeles Convention Center.

The George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB), opened on September 26, 1987, is located on the east side of Downtown Houston, Texas, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Von Braun Center</span> Arena in Alabama, United States

The Von Braun Center is an entertainment complex, with a maximum arena seating capacity of 9,000, located in Huntsville, Alabama. The original facility debuted in 1975 and has undergone several significant expansions since its opening. In addition to the arena, the VBC complex features multiple exhibit halls, a concert hall, a playhouse, a music venue, and several additional facilities for meetings and exhibitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeVos Place Convention Center</span> Convention center in Michigan, United States

DeVos Place Convention Center, erected on the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a multi-purpose convention center. It is named for Richard DeVos, who donated $20 million towards its construction.

The Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center is a convention center located in Long Beach, California. Built on the former site of the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, the venue is composed of the Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach Arena, and the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. It is served by the 1st Street station of Los Angeles Metro Rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merrell Center</span>

The Leonard E. Merrell Center is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose arena in Katy, Texas. It was built in 2005 and was the former home of the Katy Copperheads and the Katy Ruff Riders of the Intense Football League. The Merrell Center has hosted the Southland Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments from 2008 to 2022, but both tournaments will move to The Legacy Center on the campus of McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 2023. The Houston Stallions of the Lone Star Football League moved to the Merrell Center in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex</span> Architectural structure

The Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex is an entertainment, sports, and convention complex located in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama's Uptown Entertainment District. The Sheraton Birmingham and Westin Birmingham are located on the campus adjoining the convention center. Alongside over 220,000 square feet of exhibit halls, meeting space, and ballrooms, the complex features four entertainment venues: a stadium, an arena, concert hall, and theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SMG (property management)</span> Defunct property management group

SMG, formerly Spectacor Management Group, was an American worldwide venue management group headquartered in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, that specialized in managing publicly owned facilities. It began their operation in 1977 with management of the Louisiana Superdome. It was one of the largest property management corporations in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts</span> Performing arts center in Jacksonville, Florida

The Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts (JCPA) is a performing arts center located in Jacksonville, Florida. Situated along the Riverbank, the venue is known as the First Coast’s "premiere riverfront entertainment facility". Originally opening in 1962, the facility was renovated beginning in 1995 until 1997; with a grand re-opening on February 8, 1997. The center consists of three venues: a theatre; concert hall and recital hall. It is home to the Jacksonville Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the FSCJ Artist Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peoria Civic Center</span> Convention center in Illinois, United States

Peoria Civic Center is an entertainment complex located in downtown Peoria, Illinois. Designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Philip Johnson and John Burgee, it has an arena, theater, exhibit hall and meeting rooms. It opened in 1982 and completed an expansion to its lobby and meeting facilities in 2007. On the grounds of the Peoria Civic Center sits the massive "Sonar Tide," the last and largest sculpture of the pioneer of abstract minimalism Ronald Bladen.

Judson F. Williams Convention Center, more commonly known as the El Paso Convention Center, is located on Santa Fe Street in downtown El Paso, Texas, adjacent to the Abraham Chavez Theatre. It was expanded in 2002 and now features 80,000 square feet (7,000 m2) of columnless exhibit space with seating for up to 8,000 people. The convention center also has three lobbies totalling 38,300 square feet (3,560 m2), including a 23,000-square-foot (2,100 m2) main lobby, plus 14,900 square feet (1,380 m2) of meeting space. Williams Convention Center's ceiling height is 28 feet (9 m); the center has excellent acoustics for many conventions and concerts held at the center. Trade shows and other special events also held at Williams Convention Center. The convention center is also home to the Sun Bowl Fan Fiesta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza Theatre (El Paso)</span>

The Plaza Theatre is a historic building in El Paso, Texas, United States, built in 1930. The theater stands as one of the city's most well-known landmarks, and remains operational today. The theatre is a National Historic Building of Significance featuring the 2,050-seat Kendall Kidd Performance Hall, and the smaller 200-seat Philanthropy Theatre. It hosts Broadway productions, musical concerts, individual performers and the annual Plaza Classic Film Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Texas Performing Arts Center</span> Performance halls in Austin, Texas

The University of Texas Performing Arts Center (PAC) is a collective of five theaters operated by The University of Texas at Austin, College of Fine Arts. The theaters are the Bass Concert Hall, McCullough Theater, Bates Recital Hall, B. Iden Payne Theater and Oscar Brockett Theater. Theaters range in size from the Oscar G. Brockett Theater, which has 244 seats, to the Bass Concert Hall, which seats 2,900. In addition to the theaters, the PAC also has offices and meeting rooms, rehearsal spaces and shops which are located in the PAC building and across the campus. PAC provides students an opportunity to interact with professionals in staging events and performing arts and extends an opportunity to the surrounding community to participate in all-age programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi Lofts and Adler Theatre</span> United States historic place

The Mississippi Lofts and Adler Theatre is an apartment building and theater complex located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places by its original name, the Hotel Mississippi and RKO Orpheum Theater. The Hotel Mississippi was listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 2005. In 2020 the complex was included as a contributing property in the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District.

The culture of El Paso, Texas is influenced both heavily by American and Mexican cultures due to its position as a border town, its large Hispanic population, and its history as part of the Southwest, Spanish America and Mexico. El Paso is home to a number of cultural events and festivals. El Paso also hosts various theaters, museums, and other cultural sites.

El Paso has been featured in many films, as well as in some TV shows and popular music.

References

  1. "Things To Do - Abraham Chavez Theatre". visitelpaso.com. Archived from the original on 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  2. "Hotel Laughlin, El Paso, Texas". digie.org. Archived from the original on 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-10-20. The Laughlin Hotel is part of the Old San Francisco District. … A scene in "The Getaway" starring Steve Mc Queen was filmed in the Laughlin. It was located where the Chihuhahua´s stadium is now. At the time of filming, the convention center was under construction… and the frame work for the Abraham Chavez Theater can be seen…
  3. Crowder, David (2016-12-25). "Change of heart: Arena site switch". El Paso Inc. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
  4. Powell, Adam (2023-01-03). "El Paso City Council votes to abandon arena in Duranguito, reallocate remaining funds". El Paso Times. Retrieved 2024-05-22.