The Spencer Theater, with its soaring form echoing the surrounding mountains, exemplifies Antoine Predock’s design philosophy.
Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts
Alto
Between Sierra Blanca to the west and Sunset Peak to the east, the Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts perches high up on the Fort Stanton Mesa, perfectly situated within its surrounding landscape. The soaring wedge shape of the building echoes the form of the mountains, shifting dramatically with the changing light and seasons.
Completed in 1997, the 514-seat theater stands as one of architect Antoine Predock’s most striking achievements in his home state of New Mexico. “Here, one is aimed toward the sky and at the same time remains rooted in the earth with a geological and cultural past,” wrote Predock—who passed away last year at the age of eighty-seven—about his design philosophy, which was strongly influenced by the environment of New Mexico. The Spencer Theater, with its gleaming white exterior and jewel-like Crystal Lobby, exemplifies Predock’s site-specific credo of architecture. He envisioned it as “a big long line coming out of the earth, connecting the land and the sky.”
Inside, the theater showcases a fantastic collection of Dale Chihuly’s magnificent glass installations, including the fourteen-foot-tall Glowing Sunset Tower (2000) and the radiant Indian Paintbrushes (1997), inspired by the wildflowers of New Mexico. The performance hall itself is a world-class venue for shows ranging from Broadway plays to symphony orchestras.
Visitors can experience the Spencer year-round through its diverse performance calendar or by guided tour (available Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am, call for reservations). Complete your evening experience by partaking in a pre-performance dinner offered by the Spencer’s executive chef. After your cultural fix, explore nearby Ruidoso’s outdoor adventures, from skiing at Sierra Blanca to hiking in Lincoln National Forest.
