Long-Awaited Renovations Broke Ground at The Lompoc Theatre
Jarrod Zinn
LOMPOC, Calif. – A long-awaited moment finally arrived at the historic Lompoc Theatre, where the groundbreaking is 25 years in the making.
Once the heart of Lompoc’s cultural life, the theatre sat vacant and decaying for decades.
Now, a new generation of artists is eager to revive the space and share it with the community.
After 25 years of slow but steady progress, the city of Lompoc officially broke ground on phase 2 of the theatre’s restoration.
“It is in the center of town. It used to be the center of town emotionally and spiritually, in that all of the art happened here, people would gather. I’m looking forward to the heart and soul of this city beating strongly again,” says Mark Herrier, the Lompoc Theatre Project’s executive director.
In February, the stage will be opened as an 85 seat black box theater, while the rest of the building is renovated and restored to its former glory in time for its Centennial Grand reopening in 2027.
“2027 will be its 100th anniversary. And so we’re hoping to have phase three finished by then,” says Senator Joan Hartmann, 3rd district supervisor.
As it will be a new home for drama troupes, music bands, and more, it has the potential of reflecting the meaning of the word “Lompoc” as ‘liminal waters’ as opposed to ‘stagnant waters.’
“The theater will represent this new understanding of the term Lompoc, a place of dynamism and creativity, and that nurtures everything around it,” says Senator Hartmann.
Construction teams are updating the building to meet modern codes and redesigning the interior to restore its original elegance and grandeur.
The Lompoc Theatre Project is still fundraising for phase 3.
You can find out how to donate by clicking the link and visiting their website.