HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE VENUE DOUBLES
SAN JOSE, CALIF. – January 1st, 2008 - Le Petit Trianon Theatre, downtown San Jose’s premiere performing arts venue, completed the 2006-2007 season with over 500 events and meetings, drawing nearly 48,000 attendees. This represents an increase of over 100% from the 2006-2007 seasons. The tremendous growth is a result of the owner, Mr. Keith Watt’s, strong investment and support of the arts. “Over the past two years, there has been a significant increase in theatre staffing, promotions, visibility and accessibility to the community. In turn, there have been many new groups introduced to the venue and an increase in use by the groups that have used the facility for years,” said Mr. Keith Watt, President of Le Petit Trianon Theatre.
Long time users of the theatre such as San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Steinway Society The Bay Area, Mission Chamber Orchestra, South Bay Guitar Society, Opera Institute of California, Ives Quartet and San Jose Chamber Music Society have returned to present their 2007-2008 seasons. The International Russian Music Piano Competition will also be back for their eight competitions in June of 2008, which promises to again display outstanding young talent from around the world.
Several groups have scheduled additional performances to their 2007-2008 seasons. San Jose Chamber Music Society will present “Tin Alley” the Winner of the Bannff Centre’s 9th International String Quartet Competition & additional performances with Beaux Arts Trio. San Jose Chamber Orchestra will present Saints and Sinners with Conductor Barbara Day Turner, Layna Chianakas, mezzosoprano & Robert Orth, Bartitone. The Steinway Society has included performances for both Pianist Robert Schwartz and Jon Kimura Parker.
New organizations have also been introduced to the theatre over the past year and will be performing at the venue in the months ahead. Celtic Society,, San Jose Symphonic Choir, Haven, Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus, Rainbow Women’s Chorus, The Young Talent Foundation, The Commonwealth Club of Silicon Valley, Brass Plus, The Choral Project, Freedom Worship Center, and The Odyssey, are just a few of the theatre’s new users. There are also many new and returning community cultural groups that will be taking to the Trianon stage as well.
The theatre continues to provide ongoing support to musical education, offering discounted weekend rental rates for music teachers. Saturday and Sunday afternoons, student recitals take place in both the Main Theatre and the Keith Allen Watt Recital Hall, giving students the unforgettable experience of performing at one of the city’s most elegant venues. The theatre also continues to serve as a popular space for presentations and symposiums hosted by such groups as Cultural Initiatives Silicon Valley, Commonwealth Club Silicon Valley, Arts Council Silicon Valley and Poetry Center San Jose. The City of San Jose’s Arts Express , and National Theatre program will return to continue educating and enriching the lives of San Jose students with several interactive and engaging programs presented in collaboration with local arts organizations.
In addition to utilizing Le Petit Trianon Theatre’s performance and meeting space, community and arts organizations have also decided to move their business operations to the theatre. Preservation Action Council, Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus The Choral Project, Haven, Freedom Worships Center, San Jose Dance Theatre, South Bay Guitar Society, San Jose Chamber Orchestra and the Opera Institute of California & The Commonwealth Club of Silicon Valley, among many other small businesses, now rent executive office suites in the elegant and professional setting of the theatre.
Mr. Watt remains committed to making the facility accessible to the community. He continues to underwrite operations of the theatre and ongoing improvements to the building. He is also excited by the development in areas surrounding the theatre and states, “The new Civic Center Plaza, and The new Parking Garage have had quite an impact on this neighborhood. Awareness and interest in this venue will only continue to grow in the years to come.” He also remains optimistic that city and state funding will be available for future capital improvements that would provide the convenience and modern amenities the growing number of users and attendees deserve.
Built in 1923 as an adaptation of the oft-replicated Petit Trianon in Versailles, the building today is home for many of San Jose’s arts groups and is a magnificent, intimate space in which to experience live performances. In addition to serving as a performing arts venue, the building also houses 20 executive business suites and elegant spaces for meetings as well as corporate and private events. For more information about Le Petit Trianon Theatre, please contact us at (408) 995-5400 or visit www.trianontheatre.com.