Rockwell Theater debut concert garners positive marks

Posted By: Jack Krampitz September 15, 2023

By Jack Krampitz

Arianna Therriault, the arts and culture supervisor for the Bristol Park System, was generally pleased with the first concert that debuted on Saturday at the Rockwell Theatre.

“Celebrating Queen,” featuring Bristol’s own Joe Archambeault, returned to Bristol to perform on a stage that Archambeault once walked across to receive his eighth grade diploma. Archambeault and his tribute band delivered a high-octane show that had the audience cheering and singing along.

Everything was clicking when a power outage brought the show to a sudden stop. The group gamely continued for a time, with Archambeault singing to a piano accompaniment using only the power of his voice to reach the audience.

But even that came to an end when the emergency lights in the theatre had only 15 minutes of power remaining. The crowd of 315 people proceeded to the exits, happy with the fact that the band gave them everything they could, including an audience performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” that had everyone smiling on their way out the doors.

Therriault was upbeat about the debut of the Downtown Live performances. The attendance number of 315, about 50 percent of the theatre’s capacity, she considered a success.

“We learned a lot from this first production,” she said, “especially on the ways to promote these concerts on social media.”

She said she expects the advertising to reach more people and draw larger crowds in the future.

The reviews audience members gave in an exit questionnaire were very positive, she said. People loved “Celebrating Queen,” and the theatre itself drew rave reviews.

There were some complaints about the absence of refreshments, she said and added that the Board of Education controls the policy of what food and drinks will be allowed. The hope, she said, is that the issue will be resolved before the next show, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Live Shadowcasting by RKO Army.”

Therriault also said that work has already begun in planning performances for 2024. Nothing is set in stone yet, but several acts are being lined up for January and February.

The remaining schedule for Downtown Live performances for 2023 include the following:

  • Saturday, Oct. 28 — “The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Live Shadowcasting by RKO Army”
  • Saturday, Nov. 18 — “Scenes, A Billy Joel Experience”
  • Saturday, Dec. 16 — “Christmas with the Nashville King,” starring John Beardsley

Tickets for all future shows can be purchased at the Bristol Parks and Rec website:
https://bristolct.myrec.com/info/default.aspx.

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