The Castro Theatre Reopens Today, and We Have Photos

"Stage lights were being hung, carpets were being vacuumed, and the bars were being stocked with booze Friday as the grand dame of San Francisco historic movie palaces, the Castro Theatre, reemerges from a two-year renovation. It has been two years and two days since the 104-year-old Castro Theatre closed its doors for what was planned as a 15-month renovation, and grew into a $41 million ordeal which also involved digging up part of Castro Street for new electrical lines in the last six months."

"Tonight, the theater welcomes its first guests for a sold-out, benefit screening of a seminal queer film and celebration of drag to mark the occasion, in SF's historic gayborhood. That follows a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:30 pm with Mayor Daniel Lurie and others doing the honors. Tomorrow, drag star D'Arcy Drollinger hosts a big disco-themed reopening bash, and next week, Sam Smith takes the stage for a one-month residency."

"Those worried about never being able to see a film or attend a film festival again, with Another Planet Entertainment renovating the theater to also serve as a concert venue, will be reassurred by the relatively comfortable, removable tiers of seats on the orchestra level and the mixture of vintage seats in the loge and balcony. And while the organ is not yet installed, its elevator trap in the stage is waiting for it, and we confirmed last week that it is ready to go."

Stage lights were being hung, carpets vacuumed, and bars stocked as the 104-year-old Castro Theatre reopened after a two-year renovation. The project, planned for 15 months, expanded into a $41 million effort and required digging up part of Castro Street for new electrical lines. A ribbon-cutting with Mayor Daniel Lurie preceded a sold-out benefit screening and drag celebration, followed by a disco-themed reopening hosted by D'Arcy Drollinger and a one-month Sam Smith residency. The 1920s painted cupola required only cleaning after decades of nicotine preservation. Seating blends removable orchestra tiers with vintage loge and balcony seats. The organ’s elevator trap is ready and a hybrid digital-pipe organ will debut with David Hegarty.

Read at sfist.com