Sunrise Theatre

The Sunrise Theatre (also known as the Sunrise Building) is a historic theater in Fort Pierce, Florida. It is located at 117 South 2nd Street.

Sunrise Theatre
Sunrise Theatre is located in Florida
Sunrise Theatre
Sunrise Theatre is located in the United States
Sunrise Theatre
Location117 South Second Street
Fort Pierce, Florida 34950
Coordinates27°26′46″N 80°19′26″W
Built1923
ArchitectJohn N. Sherwood,
C.E. Cahow
Architectural styleMediterranean Revival
NRHP reference No.01001339[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 7, 2001[1]

History

Built in 1923 by builder C.E. Cahow, the Sunrise Theatre was designed in the Mediterranean Revival Style by architect John N. Sherwood. Opening day was August 1, 1923 as a vaudeville house.[2] The theatre earned its reputation for becoming the cultural center of the city of Fort Pierce as well as being the greatest and biggest cultural institution in Florida at the time. At the time it had the largest stage between Jacksonville and Miami. It was designed for plays, movies and variety shows.[3] In 1930 the young A.E. Backus became resident artist for the theater. Backus created displays and posters for the theatre's films and celebrity appearances.[4]

Closure & renaissance

The theater closed in 1983 after it had fallen into disrepair. In 1997, the St. Lucie Preservation Association Inc. bought the building. It later partially reopened in 1999 after a $750,000 grant was awarded to renovate and restore the structure to its former condition. After a complete renovation including adding additional support areas in 2005, the venue opened on January 6, 2006.[2]

On December 7, 2001, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

It now presents a wide variety of entertainment events from local groups to world-famous artists such as Willie Nelson, Itzhak Perlman, Diana Ross, 3 Dog Night, Lindsey Buckingham, Bryan Adams, Vince Gill, Tony Bennett, Ziggy Marley, the late Dave Brubeck plus world renowned Operas, Broadway Shows, Ballet performances, and various Rock and Jazz concerts.

On February 5, 2020 Kris Kristofferson made his last full performance at the Sunrise Theatre as he was backed by the Strangers.[5]

The theater received $1 million grant in 2021 from the Small Business Administration to help keep it afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant came through the Shuttered Venues Operator program, a part of the American Rescue Plan.[6]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. Fontenay, Blake (1 September 2021). "Fort Pierce's Sunrise Theatre can and should rise again | Opinion". TC Palm. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  3. Wilder, Anne. "Sally Rand Added Spice to Local Theater," Miami Herald, January 30, 1974, 1B.
  4. Kuzmanovic, Natasha. Tropical Light: The Art of A. E. Backus, The Vendome Press, 2016, p. 20. ISBN 9780865653320.
  5. "Sunrise Theatre". www.sunrisetheatre.com. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  6. McKelvey, Olivia (August 10, 2021). "Sunrise Theatre receives $1 million from feds to help the doors open another four years". TC Palm. Retrieved 1 September 2021.

External List
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