![\"A](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/IMG_9297-e1475360438827.jpg\")
<\/a>A lobby display featuring many images of its namesake, Ricardo Montalban. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
So, when this gorgeous Hollywood theatre was re-named for him several years ago, I was got on board from the start. But I have to be honest\u2014most of their fare did not appeal to me. It was heavily geared towards the Latin community, which I applaud, but I don\u2019t speak much Spanish, so it was not really my cup of tea. And it features basically \u201cone-off\u201d productions; I had been used to long-running plays and musicals, like the ones we find at the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre downtown. So, I haven\u2019t been to the Montalban much, except for a dance show here or there.<\/p>\n
To the many others who felt the same way, I have to tell you–this is not your grandfather’s theatre anymore! I learned all about it at their interesting fete the other night.<\/p>\n
<\/a>An aerial view of The Rooftop Cinema Club.<\/p><\/div>\n
The evening began with a visit to the re-vamped rooftop. I was amazed! I had been up there for a couple of hip-hop dance parties, and it was pretty barren back then. Now it\u2019s been transformed into the Rooftop Cinema Club, complete with uniform blue-and-white beach chairs and attractive concession stands. (And the film projector is housed in a giant popcorn container!) [Note: There are a lot<\/em> of stairs to get up to the top, so the roof is not<\/em> the place for people with any type of physical challenges. But the theatre itself is ground level.]<\/p>\n The concessions kiosks. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n My friend Jeanine and I loved the freshly-made popcorn, with tons of choices of flavored topping sprinkles. It\u2019s actually pretty much all Jeanine ate that night! But I also tried a few of the Cafe\u2019s cooked<\/em> offerings–a chicken slider on pretzel bread, vegetarian nachos, and sweet potato fries with honey on the side! That substance made those fries extra-yummy.<\/p>\n Then the assemblage moved down to the mezzanine level, which used to be where the post-show soirees were held, but now it\u2019s an independent film venue! Wow.<\/p>\n Patrick Lindquist addressing the crowd. (Or is it really Ryan Lochte?) Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Gilbert Smith, the Executive Producer of the Montalban, apprised us of the slate for the upcoming season, which begins this month. They\u2019re billing it as \u201cmulti-disciplinary,\u201d and let me tell you\u2014it is indeed that! With all the fabulousness coming to the Montalb\u00e1n this month, I feel awful that I chose this time to finally go back to New York for a bit!<\/p>\n But, if you\u2019re as much of a culture aficionado as I<\/em> am, you need to check-out the schedule for yourself, right here: www.themontalban.com<\/a><\/p>\n And enjoy it for both<\/em> of us!<\/p>\n [Note: I\u2019m glad I\u2019ll be back in time for a different musical take on Swan Lake<\/em>. This time, it\u2019s not a ballet, but a musical, written in part by an adorable Ryan Lochte look-alike, Patrick Lindquist. I guess it doesn\u2019t take a genius to figure-out why I\u2019ll<\/em> be in attendance!]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" THE RICARDO MONTALB\u00c1N THEATRE\u2019S FALL LAUNCH PARTY When I was a young \u201cstarlet,\u201d just starting-out in the biz, Mr. X introduced me to Ricardo Montalban, with whom he was working at the time. A nicer gent you could not find. (Ricardo, not Mr. X, although he is pretty cool himself.) This was an icon I\u2019d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>