Latest news with #RiversideTheatre
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Texas flooding: Vero Beach Riverside Theatre kids show support in Camp Mystic deaths
Kids lay on the floor of Riverside Theatre with colored pencils and markers in hand, writing cards filled with love and support for the Preston Center Dance, which is grieving the loss of six students who died in a July 4 flood in Texas. The Camp Mystic victims were members of the dance troupe in Dallas, Texas, which some Vero Beach students have encountered at the annual Junior Theater Festival. The event is a celebration of musical theater where participants perform Broadway Junior shows for each other and trade friendship bracelets as an icebreaker. The Riverside kids want their Preston Center Dance counterparts to know they're not alone and their loss is felt across the theater community. The bond between theater groups who share a passion for performing is strong, said Kevin Quillinan, Riverside Theatre's director of education, who suggested the kids send cards and bracelets. "We're devastated and moved for them,' he said, reluctantly agreeing to talk to TCPalm, as he didn't seek publicity for the initiative. 'The amount of grief they're dealing with through all the loss is unimaginable, so we just wanted to send as much love and support as we can from a distance.' Ellie Palm, Kaitlin Simmons, Giselle Fernandez and Timothy Cicco, all 18, have attended the Junior Theater Festival and mentored Riverside students who are about the same age as the Camp Mystic victims. "It's heartbreaking to hear, as the older crowd, that we've lost so many bright performers and spirits," Simmons said. "The cards help us show that we support and feel the loss with them. ... Theater is such a community hobby, so even though we didn't know them personally, we still have that connection through loving to perform." Fernandez added: "At a time like this, there is really no other way to help than just letting them know that we're thinking about them." Valeria Bartra is TCPalm's summer intern. Contact her at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Texas flooding: Vero Beach kids send cards about Camp Mystic victims
The Age
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Sydney council's funding vow to secure $276m Broadway-style theatre
The City of Parramatta has vowed to find $93 million to guarantee the construction of its long-awaited redevelopment of the Riverside Theatres, after the estimated cost ballooned to $276 million. As the council waits to hear whether the federal government will chip in funds for the ambitious project, councillors voted on Monday night to endorse a planned spend of $276.8 million for the revamp. The redevelopment will see the refurbishment of the existing 37-year-old Riverside Playhouse Theatre, the creation of a new Broadway-style lyric theatre with 1500 seats, a new 325-seat black box theatre, and a smaller boutique cinema. The doors to the complex are expected to open in 2028. Despite being announced in 2023, the project has long stood in limbo as the council worked out how to plug a $93 million gap in funding. But the council will now plug that hole by relying on seven different funding streams, including a targeted $15 million in philanthropy and a targeted $38.9 million in 'third-party fundraising' including grants. But if the council cannot reach those targets, it will rely on the 'unallocated balance of the property reserve', the motion shows. On Tuesday, Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter said he was confident the Riverside Theatre staff would be able to fundraise the right amount, but relying on the council's property reserves would not be a problem: 'We're in a very healthy financial position.' In its initial 2023 business case, the council had budgeted for a $188 million project, but the budget has since been forced to expand due to the huge increase in labour costs and materials, as well as expanded plans to build connections along the foreshore of the river. Attracting enough money, both in grants and philanthropy, for western Sydney cultural projects has proven challenging for decades. Parramatta's Powerhouse Museum, being built less than 500 metres down the river, is still searching for more donors as construction rapidly approaches completion. The museum says it has so far raised $66.9 million of its $75 million target, with $55.3 million taken for capital works and $11.6 million for programs. A spokesperson said they did not have a breakdown of targets for capital works and programs as the costs were combined for the first year of exhibitions.
Sydney Morning Herald
08-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney council's funding vow to secure $276m Broadway-style theatre
The City of Parramatta has vowed to find $93 million to guarantee the construction of its long-awaited redevelopment of the Riverside Theatres, after the estimated cost ballooned to $276 million. As the council waits to hear whether the federal government will chip in funds for the ambitious project, councillors voted on Monday night to endorse a planned spend of $276.8 million for the revamp. The redevelopment will see the refurbishment of the existing 37-year-old Riverside Playhouse Theatre, the creation of a new Broadway-style lyric theatre with 1500 seats, a new 325-seat black box theatre, and a smaller boutique cinema. The doors to the complex are expected to open in 2028. Despite being announced in 2023, the project has long stood in limbo as the council worked out how to plug a $93 million gap in funding. But the council will now plug that hole by relying on seven different funding streams, including a targeted $15 million in philanthropy and a targeted $38.9 million in 'third-party fundraising' including grants. But if the council cannot reach those targets, it will rely on the 'unallocated balance of the property reserve', the motion shows. On Tuesday, Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter said he was confident the Riverside Theatre staff would be able to fundraise the right amount, but relying on the council's property reserves would not be a problem: 'We're in a very healthy financial position.' In its initial 2023 business case, the council had budgeted for a $188 million project, but the budget has since been forced to expand due to the huge increase in labour costs and materials, as well as expanded plans to build connections along the foreshore of the river. Attracting enough money, both in grants and philanthropy, for western Sydney cultural projects has proven challenging for decades. Parramatta's Powerhouse Museum, being built less than 500 metres down the river, is still searching for more donors as construction rapidly approaches completion. The museum says it has so far raised $66.9 million of its $75 million target, with $55.3 million taken for capital works and $11.6 million for programs. A spokesperson said they did not have a breakdown of targets for capital works and programs as the costs were combined for the first year of exhibitions.
Perth Now
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Viral Aussie entertainer announces national tour
Lovable Australian entertainer Jimmy Rees has announced that he will be bringing his unique blend of humour and storytelling to audiences in a national theatre tour. Performing a nine-stop tour of Australia and New Zealand, Rees' In Reel Life tour will kick off in October and land at Perth's Riverside Theatre on November 22. Jimmy Rees is hitting theatres later this year. Credit: Frontier Touring 'I'm psyched to be touring my brand-new live show IN REEL LIFE around Australia and also heading to New Zealand for the very first time!' Rees said in a statement. Becoming a friend to younger audiences for a decade as Jimmy Giggle on popular kids show Giggle & Hoot, the affable entertainer's moniker was upgraded to the more parent friendly 'Jimmy Sizzle' after appearing on Dancing With The Stars in 2019. However, it was arguably the COVID pandemic that propelled Rees' star even higher, crafting viral videos for home-bound Aussies to laugh their way through isolation. As a result, the entertainer has amassed four million social media followers, with his skits and parodies on modern living striking a chord with viewers. Rees' upcoming national tour will be his third in four years, following his successful 2022 breakthrough stand-up campaign and 2023-24 follow-up. As a symbol of his contribution to the country's media landscape, the star was awarded an Order of Australia medal in 2024. Tickets to Jimmy Rees' In Reel Life tour go on sale June 30.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Riverside Theatre: Pressure grows on Ulster University over closure
Ulster University is coming under increasing pressure over its decision to close the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine, County Londonderry. The university, which owns and operates the theatre, has said it will close the building at the end of July due to financial pressures. University officials will meet councillors on Tuesday to look at options. In a statement, Ulster University said it "remains open to working with local partners and stakeholders to explore new ways to support arts and culture in the region, even as we navigate these constrained times". Steven Millar, from the Save Riverside campaign, told BBC News NI: "This isn't just a local theatre story, this is a warning to every community in Northern Ireland."He added: "If Ulster University can shut down our only theatre, despite community protest and widespread support, what's to stop them or other institutions from closing more public spaces anywhere?"Mr Millar said the university has not given the community enough time to make proposals for other ways the theatre could be funded, such as a charitable trust or community asset transfer."This isn't just about Coleraine," he said."It's about every town and every family that values public spaces, local arts, and the right to be heard." Actor James Nesbitt was Ulster University's chancellor for more than a decade."It's so disappointing that the university of which I was chancellor for 10 years finds itself in the position that it feels it necessary to close this iconic arts venue which was the launch pad of my career," he said."However, I'm also disappointed in the long-term reduction in investment in the arts by the Arts Council, the NI Executive and the local authority in performing arts in the north west."I think the agencies involved need to get together to invest in the future of the arts in this community. It will be sorely missed." Can Ulster University afford to keep the theatre running? By Robbie Meredith, BBC News NI Education & Arts CorrespondentUlster University's most recent accounts for 2023/24 do not paint a picture of a university facing significant financial the documents themselves say the university's financial results are "positive".However, like other universities, UU is facing challenges due to government funding falling below inflation and what the university says is a "significant downturn" in international student in Northern Ireland recently made a failed bid for tuition fees to rise, arguing they had not kept pace with to its accounts, UU received basic funding of about £84m from Stormont in 2023/24 and about £131m in student fees of various kinds as well as other self-generated three big campuses to run and staff though, the university also has significant the costs of running the Riverside Theatre, although not insignificant, are a very small part of the university's overall budget. The Department for the Economy has said that during the 2024/25 academic year, Ulster University received £88m of core grant funding for teaching and research from the department, along with funding of £7.6m for other specific research programmes. In addition, the department provided the university £13.8m in funding during financial year 2024-25 to support capital projects. 'Oldest professional theatre outside of Belfast' A spokesperson for the Department said the minister "recognises the cultural and historical significance of the Riverside Theatre as the oldest professional theatre outside of Belfast". But they added the decision to close it was taken by the university, adding that support for the arts does not come under the department's remit. "The minister and officials remain open to discussing any issues affecting the institution and its campuses," they said. In a statement, Ulster University said unprecedented financial challenges means it has to focus resources on "core academic activities"."Having supported and delivered this civic asset for 50 years, the building itself has now come to the end of its life and requires significant capital investment to remain in use."The university estimates this to be £745,000 in the immediate term, and is in addition to the annual running costs of £495, added they "appreciate that this news will come as a disappointment to many" and they remain open to exploring "new ways to support arts and culture in the region". A spokesperson for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said taking on the extensive repair bill and ongoing running costs of the theatre would impact on the council's ability to invest in other projects such as play parks or health and wellbeing facilities."Council currently operates two vibrant arts and culture centres at a significant cost of almost £900k p.a. to the local ratepayer; one of these facilities is just two miles from the Riverside Theatre (Flowerfield Arts Centre)."A council spokesperson added that a community delegation will be offered the chance to present to the council at the end of June.
