Reporter Profile - Murphi Cook

Murphi Cook is a theatre and arts writer for the SA Current. Cook often writes features
about innovative voices and important figures within the San Antonio arts community.
He also frequently writes about upcoming performing arts events in the city. Cook keeps
a pulse on who and what is making a splash in San Antonio.

SA Current is a local news and lifestyle magazine. Their audience is educated and
professional. Their readers have a high interest in arts and entertainment, as well as
local happenings. SA Current has a monthly readership of 272,000 and receives over 5
million monthly page views on their website.
A San Antonio Institution Celebrates 90 Years

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the original construction of the Majestic Theatre
and the 30th anniversary of its restoration. Since this restoration, the Majestic and
Empire Theatres have been revived as premier venues for performing arts in San
Antonio.

The Majestic originally opened in 1929 and was once the largest theatre in Texas and
the second largest motion picture theatre in the country. However, after decades of
ownership changes and economic shifts, the theatre had fallen into disrepair. This is
when the Las Casas Foundation was founded, which raised $4.5 million to restore the
theatre and to preserve its unique architecture. The Majestic reopened to the public,
renovated and refurbished, in 1989.

The Las Casas went on to restore and preserve the historic Empire Theatre as well.
Today the two theatres are known as the Joci Straus Performing Arts Center, in honor
of Jocelyn Straus who founded and headed the effort to preserve these venues for
future generations of San Antonians.

Since these renovations the Majestic and Empire theatres have been cultural centers
for the city. The venues host a wide variety of events from rock concerts to touring
Broadway shows, creating a home for live entertainment in the city.

We’d like you to tell a story about the Majestic and this important anniversary for the city
of San Antonio. Current members of the Las Casas Foundation as well as those
involved in the initial efforts to restore the theatre are available for interviews. This will
give you an opportunity to learn more about the history and impact of the theatre. We
are also offering the opportunity to tour the Majestic Theatre and photograph its unique
architecture and design.
Reporter Profile - Kathleen Petty

Kathleen Petty is a human interest writer for San Antonio Magazine. Petty has a
recurring section called “SA Story.” In “SA Story” Petty highlights important and unique
members of the San Antonio community. These features focus on a wide array of
subjects, from performers to car mechanics to educators. Through these pieces Petty
emphasizes the diversity and passion of our city.

San Antonio Magazine is a monthly lifestyle magazine with over 90,000 monthly
readers. The readers of San Antonio Magazine are financially successful, well-educated
professionals. They reach this audience through their coverage of the best San Antonio
has to offer.
One Woman’s Journey to Restore the Arts in San Antonio

Jocelyn “Joci” Straus has been a figure in San Antonio for decades. Involved in
everything from politics to the performing arts, Straus has an influence in the city that is
far reaching.

In the 1980s Joci took on a task that would make an impact on the city for years to
come. Straus founded the Las Casas Foundation and raised $10 million to restore the
Majestic and Empire Theatres to their original glory.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the original construction of the Majestic Theatre
and the 30th anniversary of its restoration. Since this restoration under the helm of
Jocelyn Straus, the Majestic and Empire Theatres have been revived as premier
venues for performing arts in San Antonio.

In 2013 Joci Straus was honored for her service to the venues and the San Antonio
community when the complex encompassing the Majestic and Empire Theatres was
renamed the Joci Straus Performing Arts Center.

We’d like you to tell a story about Joci and how she is a part of the San Antonio story.
Jocelyn Strauss is available for interviews and photos. We are also offering the
opportunity to meet Jocelyn at the Majestic and Empire Theatres and take a tour of the
venues. This will give you the opportunity to get a full insider look into our venues and
into the historical effort to restore and preserve them.