Peter Daut
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – After years of anticipation, fundraising, and construction, the curtain is finally rising again at Palm Springs’ iconic Plaza Theatre. News Channel 3’s Peter Daut got an exclusive tour of the multi-million dollar restoration, just days before the grand reopening.
The transformation is dramatic. Historic details have been fully restored, and cutting-edge technology has been seamlessly woven throughout the theatre.
“If it were December 12, 1936 this is exactly what it would have been. This is what it would have looked like. In fact, when you look around and you see these village scenes, and you see the starfield above us, this is exactly what was here. Most of this is completely original, repainted, and restored, but completely original,” Plaza Theatre Foundation President J.R. Roberts said.
During the tour, Roberts pointed out the new seats: “We went with the best we could find and the most comfortable we could find. When we started this restoration, the theatre actually sat 800 people. We reduced that by 100 seats, so these seats can be bigger, wider, and generally just more comfortable with more distance between them,” he said. Daut then asked him, “I notice there’s air-conditioning beneath the seats.” Roberts responded, “Yeah, you’re seeing the vents. We went with state-of-the-art in air-conditioning. So instead of it coming out of a ceiling with a loud hum, we’re now bringing the air-conditioning and the heat directly up under the seat, so we will get a consistent temperature and it is virtually silent.”
Roberts pointed out the twinkling stars on the ceiling, which can be adjusted. “So it’s very high drama, very atmospheric, and the vessel or the theatre becomes as exciting as a show on the stage,” Robert said.
On the stage, patrons can observe the original beautiful paintwork on the proscenium, which was found hidden behind drywall.
A huge part of the project: reinforcing the 90-year-old structure to meet modern earthquake standards. “We opened walls, then carefully like threading a needle, put huge steel girders and concrete columns within the walls around the theatre. This theatre can withstand pretty much any earthquake that we know of to date. The skin on the outside is original, but inside it’s all new and fresh,” Roberts said.
Daut asked Roberts, “What is the sound quality going to be like here?” He responded: “The sound quality here will be as good as any theater anywhere. We never skimped. When we were given options on different levels of sound, we always went to the highest. Lighting and sound, I don’t have to tell you are hugely important. The lighting and the sound systems together, completely combined, were at least $2 million on those two pieces alone. We wanted the Plaza Theatre to be a warm, inviting cocoon but to offer the best technology and the best entertainment that’s available today.”
Helping with that entertainment: Oak View Group Senior Vice President and Plaza Theatre General Manager, John Bolton. In addition to opening act Cynthia Erivo on December 1st, some of the big names already scheduled include Lily Tomlin, Jane Lynch, and Billy Porter. There will be a wide range of musicians, comedians, plays, and educational programs. “Classical music, pop music, country music, jazz, opera. You name it, we’ll have it all here in this very, very beautiful and intimate space,” Bolton said.
The theatre will also showcase local groups, including the Palm Springs Symphony, Musical Theatre University, and the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus. “Ticket sales have been amazing. We’ve had over 10,000 ticket buyers from all 50 states and all over Canada that have purchased seats for our shows this season,” Bolton said.
When the project was first launched in 2019, the cost was estimated at $12 million. But the city-owned theatre ultimately cost roughly $30 million, funded through both public and private donations. Plaza Theatre Foundation Vice President Kevin Corcoran pointed out the Founder’s Wall, which “represents a subset of the 1300 people who have contributed millions of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars to see us bring this theatre back to life.”
Corcoran estimates the venue will generate $40 million a year in economic impact, with up to 150,000 patrons expected. “Imagine the impact having that many people coming downtown six nights a week on our restaurants, our retail, and our hotels. It’s amazing,” he said.
In addition to a new lobby bar, guests will find updated restrooms, dressing rooms, and a brand-new greenroom. And even with these modern enhancements, the theatre will remain true to its celebrated historic past. A corridor will serve as a museum, and the theatre is already collecting historical pieces.
“We want newer generations to walk in here and be dazzled as they are with anything they can find on their phones. We want to give them a real, live experience. Something very cool and very unusual. The Plaza Theatre is a history lesson, but the kind we all like,” Roberts said.
There will be a block party Saturday the 22nd from 10AM to 2PM. The free open house includes tours and entertainment. Again, the opening night gala with Cynthia Erivo will be December 1st, and currently tickets are still available.
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