The Fox Theatre is seeing stars. And we’re not just talking about the marquee outside or the make-believe twinkles on the auditorium ceiling.
By next fall, the iconic venue will include a 4,000-sq. ft. rooftop terrace under the night sky and overlooking Peachtree Street, plus some 6,000 square feet of indoor event space. It’s the most significant expansion in the theater’s 87-year history. All of it will continue the venue’s Moroccan-style decor.
It’s the Fox’s way of playing the game led by the Atlanta Braves’ new SunTrust Park, the Atlanta Falcons’ new Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, which all include premium spaces and enhanced amenities for attendees. The Fox did not share how much the renovations will cost or the source of financing.
Admission to the Fox’s premier space, to be known officially as the Marquee Club, will be available by membership (annual, corporate, individual) and via ticket upgrades at certain performances, space permitting. No specific fee structure has been set yet. The former Churchill Downs jazz club next door will be converted into the indoor portion of the club.
The rooftop terrace will feature a combination of indoor, solarium and outdoor spaces for climate-controlled, cooled or fully outdoor spaces. Members will be able to use the lounge/terrace before and after events and during intermission.
Other expected amenities include:
- Enhanced food-and-beverage service.
- Five stationary bars.
- Passed and displayed hors d’oeuvres.
- Access to private restrooms, concierge guest services and parking.
Lord Aeck Sargent, an award-winning Atlanta architectural firm that specializes in conserving and preserving historic venues, will lead the renovation. Previous projects include Language Hall at Oxford College of Emory University in Oxford, the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center in Buford, the mixed-use Berkshire Terminus in Buckhead and Parkmobile Corporate Headquarters in Midtown.
The 4,665-seat Fox, which hosts some 250 performances a year, is home to the Broadway in Atlanta series of touring theater productions, Atlanta Ballet’s annual Nutcracker and the Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival. It’s a regular stop for dance companies, comedians — Louis CK, Mike Epps, George Lopez — and such musicians as Pink Floyd, Nicki Minaj and Bonnie Raitt, events that, in total, attract more than 500,000 patrons a year.
It is also a popular site for wedding receptions, trade shows, corporate meetings and association functions.
