A Modern, Mid-sized Performing Arts Center and Home for the Spokane Symphony

Originally built as a 2300-seat movie theater, the renovated Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox will seat 1600 as a much-needed mid-sized performance venue and home for the Spokane Symphony in the heart of the city.

Mechanical, plumbing, electrical and ADA upgrades are essential to the Theater's new use as a performing arts venue. Reconfiguration of retail space that rings the building will provide needed space for dressing rooms, catering space, ticket office, and storage.

Years of accumulated cigarette smoke and popcorn grease have obscured the original vibrant colors of the decorative painting throughout the Theater. An attempt to modernize the color scheme at some time in the recent past resulted in painting over several of the murals with red paint. Restoration of these priceless Art Deco murals will be accomplished with the help of a Save America's Treasures grant.

The original hand-painted fire curtain is intact, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts will aid in cleaning and restoring this magnificent piece of art.

Our construction partners are:

• Cosler Designs, theatrical design
• Evergreene Painting Studios
• Jaffe Holden, acoustical engineers
• L&S Structural Engineers
• NAC Architecture, architects
• Roen Associates, project management
• Walker Construction Company, contractor

An Economic Catalyst

The renovation of historic movie theaters as performance venues has proved to be a successful catalyst in downtown revitalizations in cities across America.  A vibrant cultural atmosphere makes a city a better place for all its residents, and an attractive and competitive market for new and growing businesses.  Just as the Davenport Hotel renovation has had a positive and energizing impact on downtown Spokane, the restoration of the Theater will contribute to Spokane’s urban renaissance and become a prominent anchor of the dynamic Davenport Arts District.   The Theater will…

• Contribute to the vitality of downtown Spokane and the Inland Northwest with an economic impact in excess of $16 million annually
• Rescue an entire city block in one of the lowest-income census tracts in the state
• Create 175 construction jobs over 18 months of restoration

The Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox is for Everyone

The Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox will be available to non-profit arts organizations and other groups for presentations and events in the theater.  An operating reserve of $4.5 million will ensure the sustainability of the facility.  The Theater will…

• Serve local non-profit arts organizations and children’s groups
• Support local universities, community colleges, and K-12 school districts with educational programming
• Provide a variety of entertainment opportunities for diverse groups
• Provide a venue for catered events, business receptions, corporate meetings, plenary sessions and more