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Encore Theater Sedona
Encore Theater Sedona in the Village of Oak Creek started out as a SuperVue movie theater when it was built in 1998. Joan Johnson and her daughter-in-law Marlo Johnson took over management of the theater at the end of 2012, and their family turned the space into a performance theater à la those in Branson, Mo. It reopened as Encore Theater Sedona in April 2013. The venue, which still boasts stadium-style seating, is home to Marvin Short’s Rock ’n Roll Dreams; think of it as Sedona’s supergroup comprised of some of the area’s most talked-about musicians performing Top 40 hits. Music lovers can enjoy beer and wine at the venue’s outdoor patio or in the theater during the shows.
Show time:
The theater hosts shows four to five nights a week. Shows start at 7 p.m.
What it’s going to cost you:
$15-$50
Full house:
220
The scene:
In the summer, it’s all about young kids with their parents, but the rest of the year it’s a decidedly older crowd. Jeans and boots are the norm, except when the burlesque show rolls into town…then audiences show up in their best duds.
The sound:
Marvin Short’s Rock ’n Roll Dreams features Top 40 hits from the past 50 years in a two-hour show. Tribute bands spotlight the music of everyone from the Eagles to Billy Joel. The venue’s burlesque shows regularly sell out.
The digs:
Floor-to-ceiling memorabilia hangs in the spacious lobby, hallways and restrooms: album covers, guitars, posters, magazines and concert souvenirs. Watch the show in comfy, tiered seats. The walls around the stage are lined with guitars.
The libation:
Marvin Short has his own beer label, Sax Man Brewing, a subsidiary of Mudshark Brewing Co. in Lake Havasu. Encore offers his amber ale and white ale on tap.
The nosh:
Marketplace Café is just a few doors down. Tickets to Marvin Short’s show include a hot dog or hamburger. Snacks are sold in the lobby.
The head honcho says:
“My wife and I have been traveling to Branson [Mo.] for years, and we own a resort here in Sedona,” says Encore CEO Lowell Johnson. “What’s there to do in Sedona after 6 p.m.? We thought it would be nice to have a theater here, and we liked the Branson business plan.”
The talent says:
“Encore is such a unique venue for this area,” says saxophonist Marvin Short. “The acoustics are great, and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. It’s a boutique theater, and I just love seeing people smiling when they leave.”
Random notes:
The Johnsons want to utilize the theater to host other events such as car and motorcycle shows, chili cook-offs and matinee performances for bus tours.
6615 S. SR 179 in the Sedona Village Factory Outlet; 928-284-0552; www.encoretheatersedona.com
