The Show Must Go On

Artist rendering of Riverside Theatre’s proposed renovation by David A. Suplee Architectural Illustrators.

In 1973, when Riverside Theatre was built, there were 43,700 people in Indian River County; John’s Island and the Moorings were still a gleam in their developer’s eyes and the only ways to reach the island were the drawbridges on State Roads 60 and 512, though the old wooden bridge at 512 was somewhat unreliable as it would periodically catch fire.

A lot has changed since then and the theatre is showing its age. Inconsistent air conditioning, a tiny crowded lobby, long lines at the restrooms and climbing over dozens of others to get to your seat are some of the hardships that Riverside’s thousands of loyal patrons have to endure. To remedy these problems and prepare for the next three decades, Riverside is planning an ambitious renovation project that will put the theatre under construction for the next two-plus years.

Read the entire article in the September 2004 issue