Plaza Theatre in Downtown El Paso ranked in the top 100 theaters worldwide for 5th straight year

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) – The historic Plaza Theatre in Downtown El Paso, a Borderland staple, was ranked in the top 100 theaters in the world for the fifth straight year as part of the Pollstar Mid-Year Report.

“This brings notice and attention to the Plaza Theater, to promoters and different acts that may be passing through the area. They take notice of the popularity and the support the theater gets from the area, and then they choose to put shows here,” said Destination El Paso Executive Director Brooke Underwood.

Underwood said Pollstar is one of the largest and the most notable talent magazines in the world.

The Plaza Theatre was ranked as the 60th best theater in the world in the report, and was previously ranked in the top 50 back in 2022.

The theater’s now frequent recognition is a reflection of how far it has come since it reopened in 2006 as a performing arts center, after being closed for over 30 years.

“Well, it does give me chills. This isn’t a fluke by any means. It does take a lot of hard work and dedication and strong marketing plans to get it to where it is today,” Underwood said.

Destination El Paso is the conservator for the Plaza Theatre on behalf of the City of El Paso, and is charged with its daily upkeep.

“Good community partners and people that genuinely love this facility and didn’t want to see it fall to ruin are the reason why it stands today and the reason why my children, who would have never known the Plaza Theater, can experience it for a laser show, or a Broadway show, or even Disney traveling shows that come through. It hosts a variety of events and we’re able to introduce this gem to the next generation of theatergoers,” Underwood said.

The 1930s era theater, with a Valencia, Spain theme, was constructed in September 1930 as a movie house. But with the advent of television and urban sprawl in the 1950s, the Plaza Theatre fell into disrepair and eventually closed in 1974, Underwood said.

The El Paso Community Foundation purchased the theater in the “eleventh hour,” by hosting a benefit concert with Rita Moreno to raise the remaining funds needed, Underwood said.

The theater was then restored and transformed into a performing arts center with an investment of $42 million. It held the theatrical show “Riverdance,” as its first event in 2006 when it reopened.

The theater now hosts a variety of events from Broadway to comedy shows to concerts.

Underwood says they’re always searching for ways to improve, especially with the constant improvement of technology and sound, so that they can continue to attract top shows.

“I really feel that this building, in its renovation, was a catalyst to Downtown revitalization. This happened in 2006, before we had things like the DoubleTree Hotel or before the Paso del Norte Hotel was reopened and definitely before the Plaza Hotel had a chance to reopen. So this is what kind of spurred that renaissance in Downtown El Paso to get people to come back,” Underwood said.

You can find more information on the Plaza Theater and its upcoming events right here: https://elpasolive.com/venues/plaza-theatre

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.