Shape-Shifting Stages: Inside the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
What does it take to run a venue that can literally change shape?
In this episode, Matt Ford sits down with Jeff Thielke, Executive Director of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, a one-of-a-kind Southern California venue with multiple configurations, a million pounds of moving infrastructure, and a history that includes everyone from Frank Sinatra to John Legend.
They dig into:
- What it takes to program and operate a venue with multiple configurations
- How Cerritos balances concerts, Broadway productions, co-promotions, rentals, and special events
- Why better data can lead to smarter artist offers and more confident booking decisions
- How Prism and Insights have transformed the team’s approach to scheduling, financials, settlements, and programming
- The role of real-time ticketing data in pricing, negotiating deals, and mitigating risk
- The unique economics of a city-owned venue and why an event’s impact can extend far beyond the box office
- Why healthier deals and stronger venues matter for the future of the live events industry
From a shape-shifting room to the data behind the deals, Jeff offers a fascinating look at what it takes to operate, program, and evolve a venue unlike any other.
