A marquee glows again at 2711 Ingersoll Ave., which reopened Saturday night. (Photo: Abbie Sesker)
After nearly a decade in the dark, The Ingersoll officially reopened on Saturday and has two more reopening concerts set for today. Local singer Steve Berry headlined Saturday’s show with pianist Jason Danielson and graciously agreed to answer a few questions.
What did it feel like to perform on Saturday night?
Prior to walking into and performing onstage at the new Ingersoll, I was expecting a rush of nostalgia and reminiscences of performances past. And though there was an inkling of that, I was surprised at how linear the experience felt — as though the venue had never skipped a beat since it originally shuttered two decades ago. Certainly, everything was new, and I mean everything. Still, it felt as though it had never left. It was simply hibernating until it was lovingly awakened from a deep slumber. On “opening” night, I performed songs I had not performed on that stage since my early days in college. But it felt fresh, not nostalgic. I think audiences will notice that as well — enjoying fresh, new experiences in a place that was simply biding its time until somebody turned the stage lights back on.
What’s your history with the place? What did you perform back in the day?
My first of many shows at the Ingersoll Dinner Theater was “My Fair Lady” in 1981 when I got to sing “On the Street Where You Live.” My dad and his wife had already performed in a handful of shows there and it certainly looked like fun. Eventually, I ended up working there as the host and pre-show entertainer and got to open for touring artists like Phyllis Diller, Jay Leno, Buddy Rich and the Amazing Kreskin.
When are you returning?
My next show at The Ingersoll is on Thursday, Feb. 26, when I get to perform a show I’ve always wanted to do: The Songs of Neil Diamond. Such a beloved entertainer and prolific hitmaker, his music holds a special place for a lot of people, especially with his recent retirement for health reasons. I won’t be copying him, just presenting his music in my own way with a fabulous band and backup singers. Plenty of nostalgia and reminiscing will be in the air during that show.
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