Outings: Las Cruces

Renaissance Theater

The soul of a city is its downtown. But for the past 40 years, Las Cruces’ downtown has languished. In the center of this dwindling neighborhood, the Rio Grande Theatre survived the trend toward demolition. Now it—along with the whole downtown district—is experiencing a renaissance marked by new restaurants and business springing up along the Downtown Mall, which also hosts the town’s twice-weekly Farmers and Crafters Market. 

C. T. Seale and B. G. Dyne built the Rio Grande Theatre in 1929 so locals didn’t have to escape to El Paso, Texas, to enjoy first-run silent films. Today, fully restored and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 422-seat Italian Renaissance Revival theater provides a thriving performing arts facility, and a prototype for downtown’s recovery.

The venue supports a wide variety of acts. For example, the 2010 season hosted choir, opera, mariachi, and jazz performances; and touring shows such as the Shanghai Circus and the Russian Ballet.

Renovations to the almost 70-year-old building began in 2004 when the historic adobe was taken down to its roots. Bas-relief violins and floral rosettes were discovered beneath painted metal siding and became both theme and motivation for the restoration. Refurbished Spanish baroque frescos highlight the interior that includes a rebuilt lobby, new theater seats, and a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system to manage productions.

“We estimate that more than 60,000 people have attended events since the theatre reopened,” says Rio Grande Theatre Manager David Salicido.

By remembering the past and reshaping the future, the Rio Grande Theatre has provided a template for revitalization that entices the community to return to its soul.—Karen Fayeth

 

211 N. Downtown Mall, (575) 523-6403, www.riograndetheatre.com