Gillioz assumes management of Fox Theatre

The Fox Theatre in downtown Springfield is under new management.

The Gillioz Center for Arts and Entertainment, operator of the nearby Gillioz Theatre, has entered into an agreement with Fox Theatre owner History Museum on the Square Inc. to manage the 157 Park Central Square venue, according to a news release. The financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed in the release.

“Ownership of the Fox Theatre hasn’t changed. What’s new is we’ve secured the Gillioz’s experiential expertise, from booking and promoting national artists to shaping the entire guest experience," History Museum on the Square Executive Director Sean FitzGibbons said in the release. "The History Museum will continue hosting field trips, special events and fundraisers at the Fox, but now the incomparable Gillioz team will bring their strengths to the Fox. This partnership frees up museum staff to focus fully on delivering the best possible museum experience."

Under Gillioz management, the Fox Theatre is slated to undergo lobby and backstage upgrades, along with a website revamp. Gillioz separately announced that Mosaic Arts Collective would present "Hairspray" Oct. 10-26 at the Fox Theatre.

“The opportunity is perfect,” said Geoff Steele, executive director of the Gillioz Center for Arts and Entertainment, in the release. "The history of the two venues, the ability to diversify programming and create new opportunities to bring artists into our community in another historic setting is an intentional and intelligent design."

The Fox Theatre was previously home to performances by Springfield Contemporary Theatre Inc., but the nonprofit announced "a necessary and indefinite pause" in July. 

"SCT’s announcement wasn’t something we anticipated, but it offered an opportunity to accelerate conversations I already started with the Gillioz months ago," FitzGibbons added in the release. "Gillioz management and I had preliminary discussions about the arts and establishing an entertainment corridor in downtown Springfield, and as soon as SCT told me they had to leave the Historic Fox Theatre, I reached out to Geoff. We both agreed the moment was right to move forward.”

The History Museum purchased the Fox Theatre in 2012 as part of its expansion project that moved the museum downtown, according to past reporting. The Fox originally opened in 1916 as a movie theater and has seating for 550 people, according to the History Museum website.