See the restored Palm Springs Plaza Theatre before Cynthia Erivo show
After two years of construction and restoration, the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre is ready to welcome audiences inside.
- The historic Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs is reopening after a $34 million, two-year renovation project.
- While updated with modern technology and amenities, the theater’s design remains true to its original 1936 appearance.
- The foundation estimates the venue will have a yearly economic impact of $40 million on downtown Palm Springs.
After years of construction and millions of dollars in costs, the Plaza Theatre is finally ready to reopen its doors.
The lights in the starry-sky ceiling are twinkling, the state-of-the-art video wall has been calibrated and the historic decorations have been refurbished.
But despite the updates, the theater remains very much true to the original.
An economic driver with ‘wow factor’
“I want people to be fully transported, when they come back, to 1936,” said JR Roberts, president of the Plaza Theatre Foundation. “I want a wow factor.”
The $34 million project has been under construction for the past two years. Spurred by a desire to save the historic venue from shuttering, the Plaza Theatre Foundation is ready to pull back the curtain on a stage it hopes will be a major economic driver for downtown Palm Springs.
Over 10,000 people have already purchased tickets, coming from all 50 states. Roughly 55% come from outside of Palm Springs, a promising start for a venue that hasn’t yet put on a single show.
The foundation estimates the theater could have a yearly economic impact on Palm Springs of $40 million, boosting local taxes by $3 million to $4 million.
“I think it’s exciting because it represents what the theater can mean for downtown,” said John Bolton, general manager for the theater. “People that are here on vacation, they’ll have other things to do other than play by the pool or go golfing.”
A modern facelift for a historic gem
The foundation held a sneak preview of the theater for the media on Wednesday, Nov. 19, showing off an updated version of the theater that nevertheless held on to its roots.
“We chose quality always when we had the option,” Roberts said. “We always went with the best because we wanted the Plaza Theatre to be state of the art in every way that it can and also be authentically beautiful.”
In fact, much of the look of the theater has been maintained. The Spanish-style village that makes up the walls of the theater remains, along with the original lobby. Much of the updating has come in the form of electric wiring, air conditioning and plumbing. The theater has also been retrofitted with modern-day earthquake resistance.
A new green room has been created, using a storefront behind the theater. The foundation says this is necessary to draw in larger acts that are used to nicer amenities.
Another addition will be a hallway lined with items from the theater’s past.
Those who attended previous shows at the theater may notice more room in the auditorium. The seating has been reduced to around 700 from an original 800 to allow the theater to meet certain disability requirements. The lobby has also been extended to allow for more space to mingle before and after shows.
“It’s been a long journey,” Bolton said. “Restoring a historic theater takes a lot of patience, time, effort and diligence in making sure everything is pristine in the way it was when it opened in 1936.”
Organizers hope to open the theater with a splash. “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo will headline the opening night gala on Dec. 1. Other big acts the opening week include Lily Tomlin, John Waters and Fortune Feimster.
A community open house and block party is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22. Public tours of the theater will be included in the festivities, along with musical performances held throughout the day.
South Palm Canyon Drive from Tahquitz Canyon Way to La Plaza will be closed to traffic during the event.
Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at [email protected].
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