By Liz Holland

Salisbury’s new live theater proved to be a hit during a soft opening over the weekend that drew capacity crowds to all of its shows.

The theater, called revival, opened last Thursday night with singer and songwriter Bryan Russo, followed over the weekend by a Neil Diamond tribute on Friday, a stand-up comedy show on Saturday and a sold-out drag brunch on Sunday featuring Magnolia Applebottom.

“Revival is OPEN in Downtown Salisbury,” Salisbury Mayor Jake Day posted on Facebook during Friday night’s opening. “Packed open house!”

Many more shows have been already been booked or are in the works, said J.P. Lacap, marketing director for the theater. A wide variety of shows is being added every day.

“If it can fit on a stage and is allowed by the city of Salisbury, we’re going to do it,” he said.

Upcoming shows include stand-up comedy, a Barbra Steisand tribute, Broadway showstoppers, a princess tea,  and a drag show and another drag brunch, both featuring Magnolia Applebottom, the No. 1 drag queen in Rehoboth Beach, Lacap said.

The drag shows are popular and include singing, dancing and comedic banter,

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “Everyone’s pretty excited about it.”

A list of shows is on the theater website revivalshows.com and will be updated as more shows are booked, Lacap said.

The biggest feedback from customers over the weekend was that they had trouble finding the theater which is located on the third floor of the City Center, he said. Better signage is planned to help direct people to the right location.

A satellite of the Milton Theater, Revival will offer some of the same variety of entertainment as the Delaware location, but the Salisbury space in the City Center is a different sort of venue for the theater. Instead of traditional theater seating, revival customers are seated at tables around the stage and can order drinks and food from a menu.

The theater is the latest venture for building owner Bret Davis, who persuaded the Milton Theatre to open a satellite venue in Salisbury.

Davis also helped launch the popular Mogan’s Oyster House at One Plaza East and is planning a speakeasy-style bar in the former White & Leonard Office Supply building and a beer garden on a site along the Wicomico River.

Davis has said he sees the theater as a good partner to local restaurants and bars, where theater customers can stop for a drink or meal before or after a show. In addition to Mogan’s, there are numerous other eateries and bars within walking distance of the new theater, including Roadie Joe’s on the first floor of the City Center.