A new performing arts venue will be unveiled in Peoria Heights Thursday night.
A ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration is planned for 5:30 p.m. at the Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts, located at 1327 E. Kelly Avenue, the former site of the Peoria Heights Library.
California-based entrepreneur Kim Blickenstaff tells WMBD’s Greg and Dan that he named the venue after his mother, who was a Peoria performer for many years.
“She did a lot of stuff down at Spalding, down at Roosevelt Auditorium. All those venues used to be open in those days. So, we’re just trying to get that ‘Does It Play In Peoria’ feel back,” Blickenstaff said.
Blickenstaff has a number of development projects in the works in the area including the renovation of Peoria’s Scottish Rite Cathedral, the Atrium Hotel and new apartments to downtown Peoria Heights.
It is no mistake that a majority of Blickenstaff’s projects are tied to the arts.
“You know I grew up with the arts. My mom was a dancer. We had music. We all had to take music lessons. I chose the drums, but my brother John played anything he ever picked up.”
Blickenstaff says there is a lot of creativity in his family. His son is also a musician and his daughter is a head designer for J Crew in New York.
He sees a real thirst for music and the arts in Peoria.
“What’s really driving Peoria now is technology and healthcare. We’re no longer an industrial kind of a community. We’re really getting high tech and we’re getting medically-oriented. So, the people that are coming here are want that kind of arts because they’re well-educated folks,” Blickenstaff said.
The Scottish Rite Cathedral, located at the corner of Spalding and Perry in downtown Peoria, includes a 900-seat theater, full size basement kitchen and banquet facility and parking for 130 vehicles. Blickenstaff hopes it will not only host performing arts, but also private events throughout the year.
Jenny Parkhurst has been named Executive Director of both the Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts and the Scottish Rite Theater.
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