Alex Theater operator Evensong reports 2024 growth, lists infrastructure upgrades; council requests financial briefing

Evensong, the operator of the Alex Theater, told the Glendale City Council on Jan. 28 that the theater staged about 100 events in calendar year 2024, roughly double the number of ticketed events the previous operator produced, and that the operator has begun or completed design work on a series of infrastructure upgrades.

The operator said 2024 work included major repairs to the neon marquee and completion of lower-level repairs, with tower repair and upper-level work scheduled for 2025. Design work is complete for dressing-room improvements and for auditorium carpeting and seating; the operator said upgrades to audio and visual systems were underway to meet touring artists' technical needs. Evensong also rolled out new branding and a website, thealex.com, the presentation said.

Council members pressed for more financial detail. Staff and the operator gave differing summary figures during the meeting: the presentation said operator spending was “about a third” of anticipated projections and revenues “about half,” while staff later described city and operator expense lines covering multiple fiscal years and said capital improvements over the contract life could total more than $5 million (staff cited that figure during the discussion). At council request, staff agreed to schedule a briefing that compares actual expenses and revenues to the forecast used when the operating contract was negotiated.

The presentation was made by the operator’s representative; Miles Williams and other Alex staff attended. City staff described procurement processes for planned upgrades, noting some equipment purchases are below formal council thresholds and others will come back to council when required. Public comment included a request from a resident for greater public outreach and for council and staff tours of the facility to see improvements.

Councilmember motioned to receive the report; the motion was seconded and, with no objections, the council considered the report received and filed.

Council and operator members said they would continue to coordinate on timing for capital purchases and to work through purchasing procedures and supply-chain lead times.

At the end of the discussion the council directed staff to provide a detailed fiscal briefing comparing actual revenues and expenses to the projections used when the current operator contract was negotiated, and to include ticket revenue and facility-fee breakdowns and the capital-improvement schedule.