Clarksville, TN – Welcome to the second installment to introduce Clarksville to members of your downtown business community. Our first post featured Ingredients, and we will continue with these post until all the DCA business who wish to participate have been featured.
I am excited to share all these with you, and hope you enjoy getting to know your downtown merchants, restaurant owners better.
The Roxy Regional Theatre
Owner: The Roxy Regional Theatre Board of Directors owns the theatre as we are a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
The Staff of the Roxy includes:
John McDonald, Artistic Director
Tom Thayer, Executive Director
Ryan Bowie, Director of Fundraising and Development
Adam Kurtz, Production Stage Manager and Company Manager
Katie Kennedy, Box Office Assistant
What made you open a shop/restaurant? Our artistic director, John McDonald has a funny quote, “We were doing so much bad theatre in New York, we thought we could do some bad theatre, too.” But in all actuality the need for a live theatre was recognized by Tom and John and they pursued their dream of running a live theatre and made it a reality.
What is your favorite part of running your business?
The best part of this business for me is the amount of people we reach each season. Last year, over 90,000 patrons came through our doors to see a production. Within that, 26,000 school children came for daytime performances throughout the school year. We have the honor and privilege of fostering the growth and education of the arts.
The Roxy Regional Theatre. Real Theatre. All the Time.
What products/services do you offer to your customers: We are a fully operational, live, professional theatre. We are open year round and this year are offering over 19 different productions for our patrons to enjoy.
We are also offer our Saturday School of the Arts to children 10 years of age and older. This includes acting, dance and voice.
Yoga practice has also been integrated in our program Monday through Friday from 8:00am-9:00am, taught by certified yoga instructor, Travis Kendrick. Please call our box office at 931.645.7699 or visit our website at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org for complete information and tickets.
How long you have been open: We are currently celebrating our 29th anniversary. The Roxy Regional Theatre is also the oldest business located in Downtown, Clarksville.
Why did you open downtown? After looking at several potential buildings in Clarksville, the then mayor, Ted Crozier, suggested the Roxy Theatre which was slated to become a parking lot. Through negotiations we saved the building and the rest is history.
Most challegning part of being downtown? The most challenging would be all of the other events that take place downtown. We try our hardest to be involved in anything and everything Downtown, but with such a rigorous schedule it is sometimes difficult. We are also such an icon downtown, that we always have to “be on” for anyone and everyone. There can be no “bad days” at the Roxy.
Most rewarding part of being downtown? The Roxy has been called the cornerstone of Downtown Clarksville and that is a reward in itself. Being able to be in the heart of our community and serve so many people in a centralized location is very rewarding.
We also have the honor of being surrounded by so many other supportive business owners. We all collectively support one another and recognize that a good day of business at the Roxy means a good day of business downtown and we want nothing more than for downtown Clarksville to continue to succeed and grow.
Favorite part of being part of the downtown business community: We are our own little family. We work hard together, to make sure as a collective group we are making progress and continuing to grow and evolve. I encourage everyone to take in all of what downtown Clarksville has to offer. Don’t just stop at the corner of 2nd and Franklin Street or at the corner of 1st and Franklin Street, take some time and take in everything that makes up Historic Downtown Clarksville.
Roxy Regional Theatre
100 Franklin Street
Clarksville, TN 37040
www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
931.645.7699
