City moves forward on new Roxy building, approving additional $6.2 million

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The City Council recently approved an additional $6.2 million for the construction of the Performing Arts Center, which would involve rebuilding the Roxy Regional Theatre to serve as a community arts facility for the entire city.

Funding for the project was approved as part of the 2021 revised budget, which the council approved on Monday, Oct. 5. With future budget requests included, the project’s total balance comes to $38.9 million.

A city-funded Performing Arts Center has been in the planning stages since at least 2014, and the project has had its share of challenges; however, Roxy Executive Director Ryan Bowie believes it is time to move forward.

“I have been with the Roxy going on 11 years now, and it’s been a project we have been trying to bring to fruition for at least 11 years, but it’s been kind of a dream for the organization since its inception,” Bowie said in an interview with Clarksville Now.

“The cooperation with the current city mayor, his staff and the City Council has been the perfect storm, if you will, to bring this to fruition to start a true partnership between the city and the oldest and only professional theater in Clarksville-Montgomery County.”

A new Roxy Regional Theatre

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts shared Bowie’s sentiments, calling the Roxy an iconic part of downtown Clarksville.

“We are calling it what it is, a new building for the Roxy Regional Theatre. They are a mainstay in our community. For 38 years, they have been providing live theater at the corner of Franklin and First,” Pitts told Clarksville Now.

While a city project, the new arts center will effectively be the Roxy Regional Theatre. According to Pitts, the Roxy will function as a component unit of the city, similar to Customs House Museum.

In discussing the Roxy’s role, Bowie sees the theater as a leader and facilitator of the arts in Clarksville.

“This project is really about Clarksville and fostering growth of the arts in our community. I think the sky is the limit as far as how we can use that space, and we invite all groups to partner with us to bring notice to the arts,” said Bowie.

“This has always been designed to be a new home to dance recitals, Austin Peay (State University) events, local civic groups, possibly for outdoor events that get rained out and don’t have anywhere to go. We really view this not only as a space for the Roxy, but as a space for the community that the Roxy staffs and that the organization can have under its umbrella.”

Looks old, feels new

While plans for the new Roxy have not been completed yet, Pitts said that special attention would be paid to preserving the historic appeal of downtown Clarksville.

“With the new Roxy building, it will be very sensitive to the historic nature of the building. The marquee will be preserved, I think the yellow brick that fronts part of the frontage and the First Street side. We will try to preserve that because it is iconic and unique to the Roxy building. When the final design is done, we hope that it will look old but feel new.”

While there are no guarantees regarding preservation of the existing Roxy, Pitts is hopeful that some of the most iconic aspects can be incorporated into the new construction.

A wish list for the new Roxy

Both Pitts and Bowie shared their wish lists for what would be included in a new Roxy.

Pitts said he would like to see a new rooftop terrace where people could spend time after performances or rent out for special occasions, a sentiment Bowie agreed with.

Bowie would like to see a retail space and perhaps a café, though his main interest was in expanding the Roxy’s School of the Arts program., which recently began accepting students of all ages.

“This space will have multiple classroom options so that different classes will be able to held at the same time. We will be able to continue to address the needs of arts education, and that doesn’t just stop with theater. I think that includes dance, and voice, and instruments, and visual arts as well.”

Pitts said that while he could not provide a timeline yet, details could become more clear when designs are completed, and he looks forward to sharing the project with the public.