Latté Da completes purchase of the Ritz

Pamela EspelandMinnPost

September 1, 2016

Just in time for “Ragtime,” which opens Sept. 21, Theater Latté Da has finalized its purchase of the historic Ritz Theater in Northeast Minneapolis. It took a while – we learned in March that Latté Da had entered into an “exclusive negotiating arrangement” with the Ritz Foundation – but it’s a done deal now, and the theater finally has a home of its own.

This is the first time in the company’s 18-year history when its administration, rehearsal space and performances can all be housed in the same building. The administrative offices have been there since Sept. 2014, and four shows have been produced so far on the Ritz’s stage: Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” and “Sweeney Todd,” and the world premieres of “C.” and “Lullaby.”

During that time, the staff and the audience have gotten to know the place. “Our patrons have expressed how much they love the intimacy of the space and the vibrancy of the neighborhood,” Artistic Director Peter Rothstein said in a statement. Plus “residents and local businesses have been extremely welcoming and become vital partners. … The Ritz Theater is a fantastic building in a dynamic neighborhood with a rich history of diverse ethnic identity and cultural exchange. Theater Latté Da is thrilled to be a part of its next chapter.” More like a book than a chapter. Latté Da has always been worth watching, and now we know exactly where to go.

Theater Latte Da now owns Ritz Theater

Jay GablerCity Pages

September 1, 2016

Theater Latté Da has purchased the Ritz Theater. It's a move that stabilizes the future of the northeast Minneapolis landmark while demonstrating Latté Da's growing clout. The 18-year-old company's new home includes a performance space, administrative offices, and rehearsal space all under the same roof.

The move doesn't come out of the blue: Theater Latté Da has been using the Ritz's administrative offices for two years, and the company's used the theater to stage successful shows including Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods. Most of the Ritz's 2016-17 season is planned for the space, starting with a new production of Ragtimethat opens September 24.

"During our time at the Ritz Theater, our patrons have expressed how much they love the intimacy of the space and the vibrancy of the neighborhood," says Latté Da's artistic director Peter Rothstein in a press release. "The Ritz Theater is a fantastic building in a dynamic neighborhood with a rich history of diverse ethnic identity and cultural exchange. Theater Latté Da is thrilled to be a part of its next chapter."

In the same press release, David Warner says, "It’s been a long and challenging road for the Ritz Theater Foundation but all’s well that ends well." Warner spoke as a representative of the foundation, the entity that previously owned the theater. His weary remarks were an understatement.

The Ritz was built in 1928, but its recent history dates from 2006, when it was renovated and reopened under the expectation that Myron Johnson's Ballet of the Dolls would be its primary tenant and manager. The building was owned by the newly-established Ritz Theater Foundation, but there was a close relationship between that group and the Dolls.

In the Dolls era, the Ritz — a former movie theater that was converted to a live performance space in 1971, later falling into disrepair — quickly became integral to the cultural life of the neighborhood and the city, adding to the growing buzz along its stretch of 13th Avenue NE.

However, the theater struggled with debt from its $2.2 million renovation, and Ballet of the Dolls had its own struggles; both the venue and the company were hit by the financial crash, and venues like the shiny new Cowles Center attracted some programming that might otherwise have gone to the Ritz.

The stresses took their toll on Johnson, who had a breakdown and checked into the Hennepin County Medical Center. "The anxiety and the stress just really hit me," he told Vita.mn at the time.

In 2014, the venue rebooted: the Dolls were out, and Latté Da was in, with renewed efforts to increase and diversify the space's outside bookings. As a Minnesota Fringe Festival venue, the Ritz has showcased both its 245-seat main stage and its smaller studio space around back.

Will the Latté Da purchase provide long-term stability for the Ritz? There aren't many sure bets in the arts economy, but over the past several years the rise of Latté Da as a local powerhouse with a growing national reputation has been unmistakable. Last year was widely seen as a watershed year for the company, confirming Rothstein's conviction that Latté Da's — now permanent — home is a good fit.

Latte Da purchases Ritz Theater in NE Minneapolis

Euan KerrMPR News

August 31, 2016

Theater Latte Da announced Wednesday that it has purchased the Ritz Theater in northeast Minneapolis.

The company has until now performed at venues around the Twin Cities, including the Ritz, but moved its administrative offices into the venue in 2014. Artistic Director Peter Rothstein said the facility allows Latte Da to present what he calls intimate productions of epic works.

"The Ritz is only 245 seats, but the space, the stage itself, is quite grand," he said. "It's a big-sized stage hall. And so we are able to do work that feels epic, that feels large, but it's still that really intimate experience between actor and audience."

Rothstein said the company is excited both to have a new home, and to become a bigger part of northeast. Built in 1928, the Ritz has long been a focal point of the community, but has faced major budget problems in recent years.

"Everyone knew this was a huge asset to this part of the Twin Cities, and the city worked hand in hand with us and the neighborhood to make sure that it remains a theater," Rothstein said. "So it's really a testament to them as much as it is the determination of our board and our donors to see it happen."

Latte Da opens its 19th season in September with a production of "Ragtime."

Theater Latté Da Finds Permanent Home

American Theatre EditorsAmerican Theatre Magazine

August 31, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS, MN: Theater Latté Da now has a permanent home. It recently purchased the historic Ritz Theater in northeast Minneapolis, where its administrative offices have been housed in the last two years. The theatre began performances at the Ritz in 2015.

“During our time at the Ritz Theater, our patrons have expressed how much they love the intimacy of the space and the vibrancy of the neighborhood,” said artistic director Peter Rothstein in a statement. “Residents and local businesses have been extremely welcoming and become a vital partners. With the Ritz Theater as our artistic home, we will continue to deepen our relationship with Northeast Minneapolis. The Ritz Theater is a fantastic building in a dynamic neighborhood with a rich history of diverse ethnic identity and cultural exchange. Theater Latté Da is thrilled to be a part of its next chapter.”

The Ritz marks the first time in the company’s 18-year history that Theater Latté Da will have its administration, rehearsal, and performance space in the same building. Theater Latté Da purchased the building from the Ritz Theater Foundation; the building is assessed at $1.1 million.

The company will launch its 19th season on Sept. 21 with the musical Ragtime.

Theater Latte Da buys Ritz Theater in Northeast Minneapolis

Mark ReillyMinneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal

August 31, 2016

Drama company Theater Latté Da has bought the Ritz Theater, a onetime movie house in Northeast Minneapolis.

The Star Tribune reports on the deal for the theater at 345 13th Ave. NE, which had been owned by the Ritz Foundation. The building dates back decades, beginning as a movie theater before a conversion for drama in the 1970s. Terms of the sale weren't disclosed.

Theater Latté Da has been without a permanent home since 2006, though it's been gradually expanding its presence at the Ritz. The group moved administrative offices there in 2014 and began producing plays there for the past year.

Theater Latté Da buys historic Ritz Theater in northeast Minneapolis

Graydon RoyceStar Tribune

August 30, 2016

Theater Latté Da has purchased the historic Ritz Theater in northeast Minneapolis. The company moved its administrative offices into the building in September 2014 and had been producing shows in the 245-seat auditorium since 2015. The terms were not announced.

“We will continue to deepen our relationship with northeast Minneapolis,” said artistic director Peter Rothstein. “The Ritz is a fantastic building and we’re thrilled to be part of its next chapter.”

The company, which specializes in reinterpreting musical classics and creating new musical theater, had entered into an exclusive negotiating arrangement last March with the Ritz Foundation, which owned the building at 345 13th Av. NE. Rothstein said the deal was finalized Monday.

Latté Da has grown from an itinerant troupe that staged cabarets in small venues to one of the prominent midsize companies in the Twin Cities. Rothstein was named the Star Tribune’s Artist of the Year in 2015. The company’s annual budget was $1.3 million in fiscal 2015, according to tax filings.

After producing shows for several years in the now-defunct Loring Playhouse, the company had been without a permanent performance space since 2006. The Ritz purchase means that for the first time in the company’s 18-year history, Latté Da will have administration, rehearsal and performance spaces in the same building.

Rothstein has staged “Into the Woods,” “Sweeney Todd” and “C.” (based on the Cyrano de Bergerac story) in the Ritz. The company also produced a new work, “Lullaby,” in the space last spring.

The Ritz, a former movie house, has undergone many transformations. It was built out for the Cricket Theatre in 1971 and most recently had a $2.2 million renovation in 2006. The Ballet of the Dolls dance troupe became the principal tenant and operated the theater for nearly eight years. The Dolls hit financial trouble, though, and founder Myron Johnson moved on to other endeavors.

In addition to Latté Da productions, the theater is used for dance and theater performances. The Minnesota Fringe Festival has for the past two years used two performance spaces in the building.

In 2014, Michael Rainville, chairman of the Ritz Theater Foundation, said the building was assessed at $1.1 million.

Rothstein said patrons have warmed to the Ritz’s intimacy and the character of the northeast Minneapolis neighborhood. Residents and businesses have become “vital partners,” he said.