Backstage Spotlight™
Concert Promoter Gina Zamparelli
Gina Zamparelli has worked in the live concert
industry for 23 years and was the first woman in the Los Angeles market to produce
concerts with national-level artists. Shows she produced at the legendary Perkins Palace
are still talked about in rock circles, including a Guns ‘n’ Roses show credited
amongst GNR fans as being the one that put that band on the map. Gina is active in
historic preservation and has been a theater financial consultant for 13 theaters around
the US. She heads Friends of the Raymond Theatre, a non-profit group dedicated to saving
the former vaudeville theater (built in 1921) that was known in the 80’s &
90’s as the concert venue Perkins Palace (which Gina’s company managed for more
than a decade). Once her preservation work with the Raymond Theatre comes to a close, she
will start producing concerts in LA once again.
MBADC: What can those who have endangered theatres in their own towns do to help
save them?
GZ: Part of the reason I have spent 15 years working to preserve
the Raymond Theatre is not only to preserve this one theater, but to hopefully inspire
others to preserve historic theaters or other historic structures in their communities.
Look around; see if you have a historic theater in your City. If you do find a venue that
is closed, in need of restoration, or new ownership, start an advocacy group in your
community. Get in touch with your local preservation organization, they can help you
organize your effort. Write my organization, Friends of the Raymond Theatre, and we can
put you in contact with resources that can help.
If I may expound for a second, having a charity has really changed me, it’s make me
understand how much in our world needs our help. We have people that are homeless,
endangered animals, our environment is in trouble, our historic buildings are under threat
and so much more. I wish it were mandatory that everyone participate in a cause. Even if
it’s not about preserving our history. We inhabit this earth and we should be better
caretakers of this planet.
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