Cranston’s Park Theatre re-opening soon – We speak to new manager Sara Shevlin

You may have already heard that Cranston’s historic Park Theatre is scheduled to re-open this Fall. The venue, which has served theater-goers since 1924, has struggled in recent years, partially as a result of recent flooding as well as a slowdown in the live entertainment industry as it recovered from the pandemic.

Spectacle Live, a Lexington, Massachusetts-based promoter that books live entertainment recently announced they have taken over management at the venerable theater. The company books several other venues in New England, including the Jane Pickens Theater in Newport.

We spoke with Sara Shevlin, who was recently hired as Venue Manager, to learn more about the upcoming opening. Shevlin grew up in Rhode Island and has considerable industry experience.

“I am a Rhode Island native; I grew up not far from Cranston and am happy to be back living in the area,” she shared. ”I have always had a passion for the music industry and event management. Most recently I worked for Live Nation as the Operations Manager at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA.”

Shevlin, who has an MBA in Event Management, is excited about producing events at the Park. “I’m looking forward to managing a venue that holds a significant place in community members’ hearts,” she said. “I’m very excited to build our team and work on bringing back live entertainment to this historic venue and the local community.”

Although she couldn’t share specific details at press time, Shevlin said the theater will begin hosting shows in the Fall. Live music, comedy, and other events are currently in the planning stages. “We are excited to introduce a variety of music genres, comedy, theatrical performances, and special events to the theatre.”

She also hopes to work with local businesses to revitalize the Rolfe Square neighborhood where the theater is located. “We look forward to establishing relationships with local businesses and creating employment opportunities in the Cranston community as we reopen the theatre.” 

It’s no secret that the live entertainment industry took a few years to get back to “normal” post-COVID. Some venues closed as things shook out, and others came back looking somewhat different than before the pandemic. Shevlin believes that the association with Spectacle will help the Park regain a sense of its former self.

“We are excited to add the Park Theatre to the Spectacle Live family of venues. With 11 venues being promoted by Spectacle in New England, we anticipate a higher profile for the Park in terms of booking within the industry,” she explained.

“We are also approaching the relaunch of the theater from multiple angles to ensure a successful future. The Spectacle Live team is hard at work booking upcoming acts, streamlining the venue’s branding, investing in marketing efforts, and identifying facility and operational improvements that can elevate the experience had by all.”

Look for the first round of show announcements soon – we’ll let you know as soon as we hear! Learn more here.