It was announced today that Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) have signed a deal to acquire ACE Theatrical Group, adding five theatres to their US portfolio. This brings the number of ATG venues to 45 in the UK, Australia and North America.
The acquisition of ACE brings the Kings Theatre (Brooklyn, New York), the Saenger Theatre (New Orleans, Louisiana), the Mahalia Jackson Theatre For The Performing Arts (New Orleans, Louisiana), the Majestic Theatre (San Antonio, Texas) and the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre (San Antonio, Texas) into the ATG portfolio.
The highly regarded existing ACE management team will remain with the business.
This announcement comes after ATG’s first U.S. acquisition, The Lyric Theatre – Broadway’s largest theatrical venue – which re-opened its doors in dramatic style in 2014 following extensive refurbishment, to welcome audiences to the acclaimed Broadway revival of On the Town. The Lyric Theatre has recently been announced as the home for Cirque du Soleil’s first ever Broadway production, Paramour, which will begin performances on April 16, 2016.
Regarding the acquisition, in a joint statement, ATG’s CEO’s, Sir Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire OBE, said: “Our international vision is to roll out our unique fully-integrated business model globally – expanding further throughout North America and into other territories worldwide. The acquisition of ACE presents us with a superb opportunity to work with old friends to help develop that vision. ACE is a team that we know shares ATG’s ethos, ambition and absolute passion for live theatre. We look forward to welcoming David Anderson and his colleagues to the ATG family”
