New Management Announced For The Music Box Theatre

Twin Cities theater producer, Steve Barberio announced today that he now operates the Music Box Theater in the Loring neighborhood of Minneapolis. Barberio's theater Production Company, The Directors, will begin presenting a wide range of events this July, transforming the venue into a modern day variety house for the community.

Originally named the Loring Theater, the Music Box on Nicollet Avenue and 14th first operated as a silent movie and vaudeville house in the 1920s. Known for years as the home of Triple Espresso, the 440-seat auditorium has been almost vacant since 2008, with the exception of a few occasional rental events. As a historic landmark, the theater's latest reincarnation promises to bring a diverse range of artists and performers to the stage, acting as a new performance platform for the Twin Cities.

"Nicollet Avenue was the commercial corridor of my childhood," Barberio said about growing up not far from his family's shop Barberio Cheese House. "I really love the area and as a theater guy, I've been driven to operate a historic theater in Minneapolis since I graduated from the U of M."

"The minute I walked through the doors of The Music Box I knew it had great potential because of its long history and rich energy," said Barberio. "I love this neighborhood so providing it with a stage to showcase great local work and to host national touring artists is so exciting. "

The Directors was formed in 2005 as a producer and presenter of the performing arts. Building a network of venues across the United States, it tours its own theatre productions and those of other artists. Their first major tour, The Love Knot, by local playwright Allison Moore, tours to 15 cities in four states this fall and will play at The Music Box prior to its Midwest tour. The Directors also operates The Directors Studios in Minneapolis, the rehearsal home of many artists and arts organizations.