From 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026, the public is invited to walk through The Capitol Theatre and learn about all the plans for the upcoming renovation of the historic venue. This event marks the public kick-off of a $16 million capital campaign to raise the proceeds required to fund the renovations intended to begin June 1, 2027, and completed by Aug. 31, 2028.
Originally built by the Mercy family in 1920, The Capitol Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in April of 1973, shortly before being acquired by the City of Yakima in order to preserve it as a cultural asset for the whole community in the heart of downtown. On Aug. 11, 1975, a devastating fire severely damaged the facility. The 50th anniversary of that fire was commemorated in Aug. 2025.
The Capitol was painstakingly restored to its 1920s splendor with the help of its original interior designer, Anthony (Tony) Heinsbergen, an acclaimed artist, designer and muralist. The Capitol Theatre was his first commissioned theatrical design and mural project, and he came out of retirement to work with his sons on its restoration.
The Capitol grand reopening ceremonies took place in Nov. 1978. Many modifications and upgrades were made to the original design at the time, including changes to the seating, while honoring the historic architectural and design components. The Capitol ended up being both Heinsbergen’s first and last commissioned projects as he passed away only a couple years later.
Despite its glorious interior, the Capitol has a long list of repairs and upgrades required to serve artists and audiences alike. The paired 50th anniversaries of the fire and the reopening, separated by three years, made this the perfect opportunity to once again commit to the long-term future of the facility, yet again preserving its use for generations to come.
The Capitol Theatre Committee (CTC) is the nonprofit organization which holds the operating agreement with the City of Yakima to manage the facility on behalf of the City for the benefit of the community. Working in partnership with the City of Yakima, the CTC leads the effort to raise the funds required for the renovation. The capital campaign relies on no funds from the City’s general budget.
A yearlong feasibility study evaluated the state of the facility, the needs of visiting artists, and the comfort and access of the patrons. Community leaders and stakeholders helped determine the capacity of the community to support the effort. That work led to the selection of an architectural firm and a team of consultants to design the components outlined in the plan. The campaign leadership selected Graham Baba Architects out of Seattle, with Yakima native and firm co-founder Brett Baba leading the team. The Shalleck Collaborative out of Berkeley serves as the theatre design consultants.
On June 15, the Capitol’s Open House Sneak Peek provides an opportunity to hear all the plans for the renovations, see preliminary design renderings, and share memories of past shows. Community volunteers and CTC Board members will serve as docents throughout the facility sharing details of the various areas impacted by the renovations. There will also be a cash bar and snacks.
All are welcome to attend and encouraged to ask questions. The Capitol Theatre belongs to the people of Yakima. Whether it’s your first or 50th time coming to the theater, it is your Capitol Theatre. Come and see what we have planned.
Contact the Capitol Theatre Box Office for more information, 509-853-ARTS (2787).
Charlie Robin is CEO of The Capitol Theater. He contributes a column in the Explore section every four weeks.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yakimaherald.com ’
