New Year’s Eve at the Fox Tucson Theatre celebrates more than the completion of one calendar year into the next. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the venue reopening after a major renovation project and also nears the theatre’s 100th anniversary — complete with a performance from a special guest.
“The historic Fox Tucson Theatre is a treasure for Tucson and when we reopened in 2005, it was a long time coming,” Marketing Director Trish McKeon said. “Now we’re 20 years later, almost looking at our 100th year anniversary, with the same artist to commemorate such an occasion.
“We’re so excited and thrilled to have Bruce Hornsby back — this is going to be a lot of fun.”
Renowned artist Bruce Hornsby will take the stage at The Fox Tucson Theatre on New Year’s Eve, for an evening performance beginning at 8 p.m. In the theatre’s tradition, the piano man will perform various fan favorites from the ’80s, including “The Way It Is” and “Mandolin Rain,” as well as a collection of other songs across his vast discography.
With the purchase of a ticket to Hornsby’s show earlier in the evening, The Fox patrons can get access to the New Year’s Eve party for $20 — for 20 years, McKeon said. DJ Logan Phillips will perform at the party, spinning an evening of music and dancing. In keeping with classic New Year’s Eve tradition, there will also be a champagne toast to ring in the new year — with the event running through midnight.
According to McKeon, Hornsby put on a reopening performance at The Fox Tucson Theatre in 2005, following the theatre’s major renovation. While the New Year’s event has not run every year since, Hornsby has returned to the theatre various times for a New Year’s Eve performance.
The year that the venue is ringing in with the upcoming party inches closer to its 100th anniversary, nearly completing one century of live music performances and entertainment in Tucson. McKeon said the theatre is commemorating the occasion with a new expansion project.
“We’re going to have not only our historic theater, we’re also taking over the corner and opening our doors to bigger crowds and greater community access,” she said. “That’s our hope and that’s what we’ve been working toward for the past couple of years.”
Looking to 2030 with plans for a new campus on the corner of Stone Avenue and Congress Street. According to the The Fox Tucson website, the performing arts center will “preserve the legacy of the historic Fox, expand artistic offerings and education programs, improve accessibility and audience experience, boost local business and cultural tourism and strengthen the Fox’s long-term financial sustainability.”
For McKeon and the Fox Tucson Theatre team, New Year’s Eve is a great milestone to celebrate with the community that has supported them for almost 100 years.
“We’re bringing (New Year’s) back for people to get excited about again and see that The Fox is such a great destination for fun-night-out experiences,” McKeon said. “The Fox is still here 100 years later, doing bigger and better things, inviting everybody in our community for our educational shows, family shows, comedy shows and great live music shows — there really is something for everyone year round.”
“Thank you for being a part of the fabric of theater, we’d love to hear all of your memories and we hope to see you soon.”
New Year’s Eve Celebration
WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31
WHERE: The Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, Tucson
COST: $20 with purchase of ticket to ‘An Evening with Bruce Hornsby’
INFO: foxtucson.com