The Riviera Theatre in downtown Three Rivers features a wide range of entertainment, from art-house movies, to foreign documentaries, to operas and live music. Off the Water photo/CRAIG HAUPERT

THREE RIVERS — Those looking for a unique entertainment experience this holiday season, or anytime of the year for that matter, might want to put the Riviera Theatre on their wish list.

Located in downtown Three Rivers, the family-owned, 370-seat theater offers a wide range of shows, from

Members of the band Cadillac Sky play at the Riviera Theatre in downtown Three Rivers. The Riviera Theatre brings in many local bands and national tours. Photo provided

films, to concerts, to live performances, to operas and other special events.

“I don’t think you can find a place like this anywhere,” said theater manager Danielle Moreland.

Theatergoers can watch broadcasts of live shows that have taken place on the other side of the globe. For instance, the Riviera Theatre earlier this month showed a digital broadcast of “The Nutcracker,” which was taped live at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

The Riviera is doing the same thing in January for a performance of the opera “Cendrillon” (Cinderella) that is taking place at the Royal Opera House in London. Show times are 3 p.m. Jan. 22 and 6 p.m. Jan. 24.

“It is an absolutely wonderful way to get culture and arts for a fraction of the price,” Moreland said.

The Riviera Theatre was renovated and reopened in 2008 in downtown Three Rivers. The theater has seating for 370 and features and stage and 22-foot movie screen. Off the Water photo/CRAIG HAUPERT

When it comes to movies, Riviera Theatre is more of an art house than a typical movie theater. The movie selection focuses on art films and documentaries rather than Hollywood blockbusters.

Riviera Theatre also hosts comedians — Drew Hastings and Dave Dyer performed there in December — and concerts featuring local bands and national acts.

“We love being able to support local music, but we also love being able to bring in the national tours,” Moreland said.

Riviera Theatre also offers special events that encourage people to let their hair down. For example, Moreland said people dress up in togas for a showing of the movie “Animal House” or in bathrobes for the movie “The Big Lebowski.”

“People that showed up in robes for ‘The Big Lebowski’ got a dollar off white Russians all night,” Moreland said. “People get excited about fun little things like that, especially when it is inexpensive, and they can act silly and laugh at one another.”

For sports lovers, Riviera Theatre offers free showings of big events such as the Super Bowl or the Stanley Cup Final on a 22-foot movie screen.

“We also do the Kentucky Derby and ladies show up in their hats and we’ll serve mint juleps at the bar,” Moreland said.

Patrons can take drinks from the bar into the theater for movies and most events. The bar features mostly Michigan-made beers, liquors and wines. They also offer beer and wine tastings on occasion.

“We love to be able to support local jobs and businesses and show the community there is some amazing local products nearby,” Moreland said.

The Riviera Theatre opened in 1925 and ran for more than 70 years before closing in 2000. It was purchased in 2005 by Bruce Monroe, his wife, Cynthia Jiacobone, and their three sons, Brendan, Colin and Evan Monroe. It was reopened in 2008 after years of renovating.

Moreland, who is married to Brendan Monroe, said the theater was in bad shape when the family purchased it. The family had some ties to the old theater as Bruce Monroe’s great-grandmother played the organ there for silent films. Bruce Monroe’s mother, who was a professional dancer, used to hold dance recitals at the theater as well.

Moreland said her family tried to keep as many of the theater’s original features as they could. For example, the dome in the theater’s ceiling was painted black when they purchased it, but Moreland said it used to contain a sunset scene.

“We had our own version of a sunset put up there. It is a picture of a sunset my husband took over Lake Michigan,” she said.

Moreland said the theater’s marquee is the same one that was put up during a renovation in the 1940s. She heard a rumor that the original marquee, a vertical Hollywood-style Riviera sign, was in the basement of the theater.

“We were really searching for it. Some of them are sand basements, so we were raking at the sand wondering if there was anything underneath there, but we were never able to find it. It makes us all a little sad,” she said.

The Riviera Theatre is located on 50 N. Main St. in Three Rivers. For more information on show times and to purchase tickets, call (269) 278-8068 or visit the website trriviera.com.

Riviera Theatre

Upcoming event highlights

January

9 p.m. Jan. 6 — Whiskey Before Breakfast

9 p.m. Jan. 13 — Poor Ol Jim

8 p.m. Jan. 14 — Saraph

3 p.m. Jan. 22 — Opera in Cinema: Cendrillon by Jules Massenet

6 p.m. Jan. 24 — Opera in Cinema: Cendrillon by Jules Massenet

9 p.m. Jan. 28 — Monument 6 Concert

February

8 p.m. Feb. 3 — Pretty Little Things Burlesque Show

5 p.m. Feb. 5 — Super Bowl

3 p.m. Feb. 12 — Opera in Cinema: Il Trittico by Giacomo Puccini

9 p.m. Feb. 18 — Darkness Divine Concert

6 p.m. Feb. 21 — Opera in Cinema: Il Trittico by Giacomo Puccini

TBD Feb. 26 — Frozen Marti Gras Blues Concert