New Frontier Theater

The New Frontier Theater, known as the Kia Theatre between 2015 and 2018, is a multi-purpose events hall in the Araneta City in Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. The theater has a 2,385 seating capacity.

New Frontier Theater
The theater in 2017
Former namesKia Theatre (2015–2018)
AddressGen. Emilio Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta City
Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila,
Philippines
Coordinates14°37′20″N 121°3′14″E
Public transit Araneta Center–Cubao
3 Araneta Center–Cubao
Araneta City Bus Port
OwnerAraneta Group
Capacity2,385
Construction
OpenedMay 27, 1967
Renovated2014-2015
ReopenedAugust 15, 2015
Years active1967–1980s,
2015–present
Website
www.newfrontiertheater.com

History

The theater first opened on May 27, 1967[1] as the New Frontier Cinema-Theater and considered to be the biggest theater in the Philippines,[2] with at least 3,500 seating capacity.[3] The theater is influenced by the Radio City Music Hall,[4] and also had an ice skating rink and a roller skating rink, which opened in 1968 and has a capacity of 900 skaters.[5] It was used until the late 1980s,[6] after which the theater fell into disuse due to the emergence of home video formats such as Betamax, VHS and LaserDisc, as well as competition of new malls with cinemas, causing standalone theaters to deteriorate and close operations.[6]

Plans for the renovation of the theater were laid out as early as 2003,[2] however, plans were finalised 11 years later and the renovation works would have been completed in an earlier date. It was renovated in 2014 and was reopened on August 15, 2015, tapping Megawide Construction Corporation as the general contractor of the project. The renovation project costed ₱500 million,[6] including the preservation of the original facade of the building and the installation of new modern seats. The renovated theater has a 2,385 seating capacity.[6][7]

The theater was renamed "Kia Theatre" after the Araneta Group signed a five-year licensing deal with Columbian Autocar Corporation, the Philippine distributor for Kia Motors until 2018, on July 15, 2015.[6] The theater façade would feature a 305.96 square metres (3,293.3 sq ft) Kia showroom as part of the agreement.[8]

The theater began accommodating performances and guests with the staging of the musical, MLQ: Ang Buhay ni Manuel Luis Quezon.[9] The first commercial show of the theater upon its reopening was The Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival which ran from September 1 to 6.[6]

The theater reverted to its original name, the "New Frontier Theater" on October 1, 2018,[10][11] and is connected to the Gateway Mall and the Manhattan Parkview via elevated bridges, both completed on the 3rd quarter of 2018 and on the 3rd quarter of 2019, respectively.

  • The entrance area of the New Frontier Theater
  • The logo of the New Frontier Theater as the Kia Theater from 2015-2018

See also
  • Entertainment events at the Kia Theatre

References
  1. Dalisay, Jose (2008). "My Comfort Zone". The Araneta Center : the big dome and beyond. By Alcazaren, Alfred; Yuson, Paulo. p. 23. ISBN 9789719398103.
  2. "Tallest Christmas tree aglitter anew in Cubao". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 16 November 2006. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  3. Buban, Charles (9 September 2003). "Araneta Center: Business, retail hub of the future". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  4. Enriquez, Marge C. (16 July 2020). "From The Archives: Rediscovering The Glory Of The Araneta Center". Tatler Philippines. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  5. "7 cool bits of Philippine history that took place in the 'City of Firsts'". GMA News Online.
  6. de Guzman, Nickky (21 July 2015). "QC's New Frontier Theater reopens". Business World. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  7. "QC's old New Frontier Theater to be rehabilitated". GMA News. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  8. "Kia Theatre opens at Araneta Center". The Standard. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  9. "Araneta Group Company Profile" (PDF). Araneta Group. Retrieved 5 March 2017. The (Kia) theater officially opened on August 15, 2015 with the Manuel L. Quezon play, which was quickly followed up by the world-renowned Disney Live.
  10. "The Moffatts are coming to Manila and Cebu". Rappler. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018. Their upcoming reunion tour is happening on Friday, November 30, 2018, 8 PM, at the Kia Theatre (which will be renamed the New Frontier Theatre after October 1)...
  11. Bodegon, Kara (10 October 2018). "Taking Back Sunday announce Tokyo, Singapore, Manila shows for 20th anniversary tour". Bandwagon. Retrieved 10 October 2018. The show will be held at the New Frontier Theater (formerly the Kia Theatre) in Quezon City on January 26 (Saturday).
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