BBB coming to RWC

Funny, I was just making a snarky remark about the Park Theatre still being a yawning hole in downtown Menlo Park. It's lovely to hear that the neighboring theater to the north is doing something admirable.

Broadway By the Bay has announced plans to move to the shuttered Fox Theatre in Redwood City. The Fox was built in 1928 as a spot for vaudeville as well as movies, so live theater is a fine match, and BBB -- which now performs at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center -- puts up fine musical theater. I remember seeing a production of "A Chorus Line" years ago at the Fox (presented by the late Peninsula Center Stage) and loving the elegant lobby and general Art Deco feel.

The Fox is on the National Register of Historic Places, and its marquee has advertised quite an array of past performers, including Los Lobos, Tony Bennett, Garrison Keillor, Neil Young and Wynton Marsalis. As reported in the Almanac, it's now being run by Menlo Park native Eric Lochtefeld, along with the neighboring Little Fox nightclub. According to a press release, Broadway By the Bay plans to move to the 1,400-seat Fox in its 2011 season. And if anyone from BBB or the Fox had responded to my queries, I would be happy to tell you more details.

For now, I can simply congratulate Redwood City for continuing to improve its downtown. I worked downtown in the '90s, and much has changed since then. You've got the beautifully renovated Courthouse Plaza, which hosts tons of music, dance and other arts events, neighboring the stalwart San Mateo County History Museum. Not long ago, the new Century 20 movie theater opened, and now a quality theater company is taking up residence. Well done.

Pictured: The Fox Theatre. Photo from the Almanac.