VenuesNow 2026 All-Star Honoree: Allan Vella

Allan Vella
President & Chief Executive Officer
Fox Theatre – Atlanta

STAGE PRESENCE
Record-breaking performing arts sales with Broadway Across America partnership.

The historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta continues to present a jam-packed schedule of both regular touring artists and popular theatrical productions – including Ari Lennox, Marcus King and Lil Jon, along with “Hamilton” and “Monty Python’s ‘Spamalot’” – propelling the nearly-100-year-old downtown venue to the top of Pollstar’s charts.

“We continue to set records for sales of touring Broadway, thanks to our partnership with Broadway Across America,” says president and CEO Allan Vella. “Our subscription base is strong and maintains with little fluctuation from year to year. This programming is a great complement to our concerts, comedy, dance and alternative programming that we present or present with our promoter partners.”

The Fox is part of a performing arts circuit that is dependent on new productions piquing interest year in and year out, and Vella minces no words about the state of business. “The live market is a bit soft this year,” Vella admits. “Some titles continue to be strong at the box office; however, weaker product really suffers.” That said, the venue has stood for nearly 100 years and looks to invest well into the future.

“This year, we completed an addition to our Marquee Club,” Vella says. “It is an area on the rooftop we call the Arcade Lounge. It is a beautiful space with a bar, AV, and seating for approximately 40. It adds to our capacity in the club while allowing us to also create a private space within the ‘private’ club. Our guests love it as well as our performers.”

Looking ahead, the Fox is already planning its centennial smash, set for Christmas Day, 2029. He says, “We assembled a Creative Cohort of Atlanta’s best creative minds to help us design a celebration that honors our legacy by recognizing our storied history and paying tribute to those who filled our seats or graced our stage; celebrates our unique impact and contributions to communities throughout Atlanta and Georgia; boldly expresses gratitude to the community that both saved and sustained us and pays it forward through ongoing support and meaningful connections; and generates anticipation for the future by inspiring engagement and affinity for the next 100 years.”