Movie News

Fort Worth-area Alamo Drafthouse locations to prevail despite bankruptcy

Rendering of Alamo Drafthouse in Little Elm

Alamo DFW will survive.

Photo courtesy of Alamo Drafthouse DFW

Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse has filed for Chapter 11, and is working on a sale to investors. But in good news, the Dallas-Fort Worth locations will survive.

The movie theater chain is among the many businesses that have been decimated by the coronavirus.

Alamo toldForbes that, as part of its bankruptcy proceedings, it will sell assets to investors such as Altamont Capital Partners, which already owns 40 percent of the chain.

So far, three locations are destined to shutter, including The Ritz in Austin, plus locations in New Braunfels, and Kansas City, Missouri. Other locations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

But most locations will stay open during the Chapter 11 process, and that includes the six locations in Dallas-Fort Worth: North Richland Hills, Denton, Las Colinas, Richardson, Cedars, and Lake Highlands.

The DFW locations are part of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema — DFW & Twin Cities, with locations in Tarrant, Denton, and Dallas counties, plus one in Minnesota, and are independently owned by the father-son duo Bill D. DiGaetano (owner) and Bill C. DiGaetano (owner & CEO).

"Our franchisor Alamo Drafthouse Cinema announced today that it has voluntarily filed for bankruptcy as the Coronavirus pandemic continues to have a negative effect on the movie business," says Bill C. DiGaetano in a March 3 release. "Our DFW and Twin Cities locations are not in bankruptcy. We have confidence that when the Alamo franchisor emerges, it will be even stronger and better able to support all franchisees."

COVID-19 forced the closure of U.S. movie theaters, including Alamo, in 2020. They reopened briefly during August-September 2020, but have been closed due to the lack of first-run film releases from major studios, lower attendance, and government mandates on capacity.

The DiGaetanos first signed a franchise agreement with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in December 2010 and opened their first theater in Richardson in August 2013.

Their immediate plans have not changed: They still intend to open their seven theaters over the next several months with the wider distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine and a slate of new first-run film releases from studios.

"To say that the last 12 months have been a roller coaster ride for us here at Alamo DFW & Twin Cities would be an understatement, and I know I don't need to explain this to anyone," Bill C. says. "This pandemic has affected every single one of us, and we all have faced challenges at home, work, and school. The good wishes, questions, and curiosity about our reopening are truly appreciated."

"Thanks to our bank, investors, local municipalities and federal government support, we are targeting a reopening this summer," he says. "We cannot wait to see you all again in a safe, fun, and of course, over-the-top theater experience!"

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Weekend Event Planner

Leon Bridges leads the 13 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

Photo by Jack Bool

Leon Bridges will play a homecoming show at Dickies Arena on November 15.

It's a huge music weekend across Fort Worth, featuring six concerts and a music festival with big names littering the landscape. Other choices include three college theater productions, the start of a great holiday event, screenings of a documentary, and the start of a new art exhibition.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, November 14

TCC Southeast presents The Thin Place
Hilda longs to contact her grandmother, who died after Hilda's mother banned her for being a psychic influence. Hilda’s mother, facing a darkness of her own, goes missing, leaving Hilda without yet another important female in her life. Hilda seeks out Linda, a medium, for a reading, hoping to contact both her mother and grandmother. Ultimately, Linda reveals the truth about her “gift.” The production, taking place in the C. A. Roberson Theatre at Tarrant County College Southeast in Arlington, runs through Friday.

Tarrant County College presents 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Six misfit middle schoolers compete, but only one can win. Each of them brings their own hopes, struggles and passions. A heartwarming exploration of beautiful, sometimes heartbreaking chaos, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee invites audiences to embrace every moment with a keen perspective, recognizing that each experience, no matter how challenging, contributes to the beauty of life. The production runs through Saturday at Tarrant County College - Northeast Campus in Hurst.

Texas Wesleyan University presents Next To Normal
Next to Normal is a rock musical that explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness. Dad's an architect; Mom rushes to pack lunches and pour cereal; their daughter and son are bright, wise-cracking teens, appearing to be a typical American family. And yet their lives are anything but normal because the mother has been battling bipolar disorder for 16 years. The show takes audiences into the minds and hearts of each character, presenting their family's story with love, sympathy and heart. The production runs through Sunday at Texas Wesleyan University.

Friday, November 15

Gaylord Texan ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
At ICE!, the signature holiday attraction at the Gaylord Texan, guests can experience their favorite scenes from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer brought to life in the walk-through winter wonderland. ICE!, kept at a chilly 9°F, features 2 million pounds of ice sculptures hand-carved by 35 artisans from Harbin, China; six ice slides; colorful ice sculptures depicting the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; and an ice sculpture scene of the Nativity. The event takes place daily through January 5.

Magnolia at the Modern: The Cowboy and the Queen
In this documentary, Monty Roberts, a nonviolent horse trainer who rejected traditional "breaking" methods, forms an unlikely friendship with Queen Elizabeth II. Bonding over their shared love for animals, they overcome Monty's doubters to broadcast his gentle approach globally. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Leon Bridges in concert
It's been almost nine years since Leon Bridges earned his first Grammy nomination, and the Fort Worth singer has continued to make the city proud ever since. He's gone on to earn three more Grammy nominations, winning one in 2019, and collaborating with singers like Noah Cyrus, Khruangbin, John Mayer, and Miranda Lambert. He'll play a special homecoming show at Dickies Arena in support of the recently-released album, Leon, joined by special guests Charley Crockett and Hermanos Gutiérrez.

Haley Reinhart in concert
Singer Haley Reinhart first gained notice on the 10th season of American Idol, in which she came in third place. She turned that into a solo career that has resulted in five well-received albums, as well as collaborations with the group Postmodern Jukebox that included viral covers like Radiohead's "Creep." She'll play at Arlington Music Hall.

Ray Wylie Hubbard in concert
If you're a fan of Texas country music, then Ray Wylie Hubbard is something of a god to you. Over the course of his 40-plus year career, Hubbard has worked with musicians both big and small, endearing himself to legions in the process. He has released 19 albums in his career, most recently Co-Starring Too in 2022. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Saturday, November 16

Shaq’s Bass All Stars Festival
Diesel (aka Shaq) will bring his touring live event series, Shaq’s Bass All Stars, back to Fort Worth with the second annual large-scale bass music festival, Shaq’s Bass All Stars Festival. The lineup will feature performances by Diesel, Dion Timmer, Dirt Monkey, Eptic, and Space Laces, along with NGHTMRE, Dimension, Peekaboo, Celo, Grabbitz, Muerte, Perry Wayne, Rated R, Sora, Kozmoz, Space Wizard, and Stoned Level. The event takes place at Panther Island Pavilion.

American Aquarium in concert
Alternative country/rock band American Aquarium has featured a lot of change since their debut in 2006, going through over 30 different band members. But the one constant has been lead singer/guitarist BJ Barham, who started the band in his college dorm room. The current version of the band will play at Ridglea Theater in support of their new album, The Fear of Standing Still.

Iron Maiden in concert
After forming in 1975, heavy metal band Iron Maiden released their debut album in 1980, setting in motion a career that has gone on to include 17 albums, most recently Senjutsu in 2021. While they've been huge in their native United Kingdom from the beginning, they've somehow only managed one top 10 song - 1983's "Flight of Icarus" - in the U.S. over all these years. As part of The Future Past Tour, they'll play songs from Senjutsu, their seminal 1986 album, Somewhere In Time, and other fan favorites.

Clint Black in concert
Country star Clint Black's 1989 debut album, Killin' Time, made him an instant star, going to No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart thanks to No. 1 songs like "A Better Man," "Nobody's Home," "Walkin' Away," and the title track. At this concert at Billy Bob's Texas, Black will play that album in its entirety, as well as other hit songs from throughout his 35-year career.

Sunday, November 17

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth presents "Diaries of Home"
"Diaries of Home" presents images by 11 women and nonbinary artists that explore the multilayered concepts of family, community, and home. Over the last 60 years, these photographers have influenced the discourse surrounding the medium by challenging the discipline of photography itself and preconceptions about domestic, familial, and communal spaces, often referred to as feminine spheres. The exhibition will remain on display through February 2, 2025.

Photo by Jack Bool

Leon Bridges will play at Dickies Arena on November 15.

concerts dickies arena event-planner exhibitions-visual-arts festivals galleries holidays leon bridges movies music theater