The familiar sign in Davis Sq. will soon be replaced as The Rockwell emerges as the new identity for the newly refurbished performing arts venue.

By Jim Clark

While most of us pass it as we make our way down Elm St. in Davis Sq., not everyone is entirely familiar with the Davis Sq. Theatre. However the intimate – 203 seat – entertainment venue has been providing space for all sorts of performing arts events since the 80’s.

The venue was originally established in 1987 as The Boston Baked Theatre and later, it was known as Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway. In 2010, the late Ken Kelly acquired the landmark and reopened it as the Davis Square Theatre in 2012 under the direction of Boston actor and producer, Gabriel Kuttner. Since then, Kelly and his team have fulfilled the need of providing an affordable intimate setting for emerging and established artists alike in a landscape where independent venues are sadly disappearing every day due to lucrative real estate developments.

And now the theater will be reborn anew with both a physical makeover and a name change, to The Rockwell.

Self-styled “steward” of The Rockwell, director Damon Leibert.

The Rockwell pays homage to Rockwell College, the secondary school that Ken Kelly attended in Tipperary, Ireland, before immigrating to America. Following Kelly’s passing after a long battle with cancer in December 2015, his family continues his legacy by maintaining ownership, operations and the mission of this beloved Somerville venue.

Current director Damon Leibert, helps manifest Kelly’s deep commitment to the Somerville arts community. “Ken was not only a huge supporter of many local organizations and businesses in the community, but also of the arts,” says Leibert. “He vowed to keep the space as a performing arts center where others might have seized the opportunity to develop a highly profitable nightlife business in the bustling Davis Square neighborhood. The venue’s next chapter continues a commitment that Ken made and would be proud to call The Rockwell.”

The revamped space has underwent cosmetic upgrades to both the lobby and theater including new flooring, fresh paint, theatre curtains and lighting while the bathrooms have been fully renovated. The Rockwell now also boasts upgraded technical equipment, an HVAC system and is proud to debut a new box office and team members this fall, with its grand reopening scheduled for September 12.

With its name change, The Rockwell will begin to produce original content in an effort to further define its identity while alleviating the name confusion with the Somerville Theatre, a nearby movie theater with no affiliation. The theater will continue to welcome local acts and offer the space to patrons, organizations, theatrical companies, and comedians at affordable rates.

The Rockwell offers a full bar, catering options for private events, a sound system for live music, theatrical lighting, projection capabilities and the venue is handicap accessible.

Situated behind Saloon and beneath Foundry on Elm, The Rockwell is located 255 Elm Street in Somerville’s Davis Square neighborhood. For more information, please call (617) 684-5335 or visit www.therockwell.org.