Pueblo's Steel City Theatre Company moving to old Chief Theater, planning $1M renovation

After a decade in the former Patti's Restaurant, Steel City Theatre Company is moving to the site of a former movie house and nightclub.

The theatre company is planning a three-phase, $1 million renovation of the old Chief Theater building at 611 N. Main St.

Since 1916, the building has passed through multiple owners' hands and served several purposes. Originally known as the Rialto Theater, it evolved from showing vaudeville and silent films to "talkies." In the 1930s, it became Chief Theater and was Pueblo's last surviving downtown movie theater when it closed in January 1986.

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The following years saw the Chief Theater transform into The Chief nightclub, Damon Runyon Repertory Theatre and the Spirit House Cabaret.

"A lot of people in our town have wonderful memories of the Chief at various phases of it and various ages and time," said Andrea Garrett, managing director for Steel City Theatre Company. "We are just so excited to be part of the history."

The first phase of renovations will include rebuilding the theater stage as well as electrical and cosmetic work. That phase will cost an estimated $350,000.

With the help of a "virtual fundraising blitz" May 13-20, the theater company has already raised most of the $350,000. The group hopes that completing the first phase will be enough for it to utilize the building for a K-8 performing arts camp in late July.

Subsequent phases will include the addition of backstage dressing rooms, custom curtains, sound equipment and lighting. To fund the three-phase project, the theatre company will be pursuing grants and holding various fundraisers throughout the summer.

A crowdfunding site, "Save the Stage" at givebutter.com/savethestage, will be online until $1 million is raised. Garrett said the fundraising support from community members so far has been "amazing." The site has raised $314,350 as of May 19.

Beginning in 2001, actors performed at various locations including Colorado State University Pueblo, Pueblo Community College and the Pueblo Federal Building. In 2013, the closed Patti's Restaurant, 241 S. Santa Fe Ave., became the theatre company's home. The old diner was renovated to become a 75-seat dinner theater, but the flourishing theater company has since outgrown the venue.

One of the biggest reasons for the planned relocation is the growth of its children's programming. Last summer, the theater company had about 100 children performing in a single production with limited space over two nights of performances, so each performer was limited to inviting four guests.

With room for about 400 seats in the Chief Theater building, performers will be able to invite more guests and there will be more opportunities for ticket sales.

"We'll continue to move where we can expand the kids programs and keep them really affordable," Garrett said. "We try to make sure that everyone who wants to can attend classes or camps — either through scholarships, working or after finding scholarships."

"We really try not to turn anyone away, ever. This is going to be a larger venue to help us continue that goal," she said.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com.

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