Roxian Theatre renamed in partnership with Citizens

McKees Rocks’ concert venue has been renamed to the Roxian Theatre presented by Citizens as part of the bank’s effort to expand its role in shaping the future of live music in Pittsburgh.

The partnership comes months after a separate announcement of a concert venue coming to the former Civic Arena site in Pittsburgh — Citizens Live at the Wylie.

Mark Rendulic, Citizens’ market president, said the bank’s investment in the arts aligns with the company’s goals of community development and strengthening the economy.

“When you look at Citizens overall — and as we step back recently to really evaluate the market — we were looking for a place where we thought we could find white space that also aligned with the things that are important to us,” he said.

The Roxian Theatre originally opened in 1929 and has been a part of McKees Rocks for nearly a century. The building underwent a $9 million renovation and reopened in 2019 as a music venue and has a capacity of 1,470.

Some of the venue’s upcoming shows this week include: R&B singer Raphael Saadiq on Oct. 7, folk band Leftover Salmon on Oct. 9, indie band Peach Pit on Oct. 10 and paranormal investigators Greg & Dana Newkirk on Oct. 11.

In March, construction in the Lower Hill District began for Citizens new 4,000-capacity venue, new indoor concert venue for Live Nation. Rendulic said the goal is to create more jobs through the venues.

“The Roxian Theatre has long been a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s live music scene, and our partnerships with both the Roxian and Citizens Live at the Wylie are an extension of our ongoing investment in the cultural vibrancy of the city,” Rendulic said in a release.

As part of the collaboration, Citizens debit and credit cardholders will receive exclusive presale access and the ability to skip the line at both Citizens Live at the Wylie and Roxian Theatre presented by Citizens.

Once inside the venue, attendees can expect the Roxian’s lounge and skybox to have an “elevated enhanced hospitality space that’s accessible for anyone as part of the ticket package that they purchase,” said Bennett Griesmer, a spokesman for Citizens.

“I do believe there’ll be some work to reflect the fact that we’ve come in to the Roxian. And I think you’ll see more Citizens green, perhaps, then you’ve seen in the past,” Rendulic said.

Rendulic declined to disclose how much Citizens had invested in the partnership with Roxian.

“It just filled a niche that brings artists to Pittsburgh that perhaps otherwise wouldn’t be able to come. So we think it’s a great way for us to kind of expand that cultural scene in the city,” Rendulic said.