Overview

The Foundation for Cultural Arts in San Antonio, popularly known as Las Casas, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization which was founded in 1988. Las Casas is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the Majestic Theatre and the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre and the development of the San Antonio Performing Arts Center. The San Antonio Performing Arts Center was officially dedicated on September 11, 1989.

Las Casas’ first commitment was to restore the Majestic Theatre as the cornerstone of the San Antonio Performing Arts Center. In 1928-1929, it took 11 months to build at a cost of $3 million. In 1988-1989, it took 11 months to restore at an approximate cost of $4.5 million.

The Charline McCombs Empire Theatre was the second venue to be restored as part of the San Antonio Performing Arts Center. After being dark for nearly 25 years, this golden-jewel was restored in 1998 at an approximate cost of $5.5 million.

The San Antonio Performing Arts Center has stimulated economic activity in the downtown area by bringing the community back into the heart of the city. Additionally, the San Antonio Performing Arts Center has attracted to the downtown area major corporations, businesses, restaurants and retailers.

Phase I: The Majestic Theatre

The preservation and restoration of the Majestic Theatre represents Phase I of the San Antonio Performing Arts Center. The nations leading architects and consultants were engaged to direct the restoration and train local artisans. The cost was approximately $4.5 million.

The entire theatre, with the exception of the upper balcony and non-essential decorative plasterwork, was restored to its original appearance as accurately as possible, while making the theatre more technically up-to-date and more comfortable for audiences and performers. Architectural ornamentation was cleaned, repaired and repainted in the original vibrant colors; replicas were created as necessary. A new orchestra-level concession area with expanded restroom facilities was constructed adjoining the main lobby. A Broadway-quality production sound system, an acoustical shell and an electronic sound-enhancement system were installed. The basement area under the combined theatre complex was redesigned to create functional support facilities for both theatres; redesigning the basement created more than 20,000 square feet of usable space.

Phase II: Stagehouse Reconfiguration

In 1995, the Broadway mega-musical, The Phantom of the Opera, played in the San Antonio Municipal Auditorium for eight weeks. The Auditorium was chosen over the Majestic Theatre because the Majestic’s stage depth of 27 feet (the most shallow stage depth of all nationally toured theatres) was inadequate to accommodate the large production requirements of the show. Although The Phantom of the Opera was a financial success, the production company was dissatisfied with the quality of the production in the Auditorium and indicated that they would not book future shows in the Auditorium for numerous technical reasons.

The Department of Economic Development for the City of San Antonio estimated that The Phantom of the Opera had a positive economic impact of $2.6 million for the City, therefore, the potential loss of such future income to the community was viewed with serious concern.

An expanded Majestic Theatre stagehouse was proposed to attract the mega-musical touring productions, however, there were physical space limitations that prevented the reconfiguration. An opportunity to overcome the limitation occurred in July, 1995, when the owners of the Little Brady Building, a three-story building abutting the two stagehouses of the theatre complex, agreed to a long-term lease-purchase contract for the building. Acquisition of the Little Brady Building made the stagehouse reconfiguration a feasible project.

Construction began with the demolition of structural walls where the Majestic Theatre, the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre and the Little Brady Building adjoin. Two new stagehouse walls, complete with sound-isolation barriers for each, were erected as were walls completing the Little Brady Building. The original stagehouse walls were then removed. A 3,000 pound, 15 foot high acoustical door, a freight elevator and a hydraulic scissor lift was installed. The stagehouse reconfiguration provided the essential technical support and access space within the theatre complex.

The stagehouse reconfiguration expanded the stage depth of the Majestic Theatre to 40 feet. Construction commenced in December, 1995 and was completed in September, 1996 at an approximate cost of $4.1 million. No theatre seasons were interrupted during the Phase II stagehouse reconfiguration.

Phase III: The Charline McCombs Empire Theatre

The preservation and restoration of the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre represents Phase III of the San Antonio Performing Arts Center. Again, the nations leading architects and consultants were engaged to direct the restoration, as well as local artisans who previously worked on the Majestic Theatre restoration. The cost was approximately $5.5 million.

The Empire Theatre was renamed by the City of San Antonio in 1998 as the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre to recognize a $1 million gift by Charline and B.J. (Red) McCo mbs; this gift enabled Las Casas to complete the preservation and restoration of the theatre.

The entire theatre was restored to its original appearance as accurately as possible, while modern conveniences were incorporated into the design. The original decorative ornamentation was stripped of many layers of paint, repaired, repainted and gilded with six pounds of gold-leaf. Mahogany woodwork which accents the interior was repaired and re-stained. The restoration included the addition of central air and heat, a passenger elevator and new restroom facilities. The orchestra-level was redesigned to install a series of adjustable platforms created specifically for the theatre; the platforms give the orchestra-level the flexibility to accommodate theatre, cabaret or banquet settings. A new theatre ceiling was designed to support and hide catwalks, new theatrical rigging lines were installed, as was a new sound system.

Phase IV: Majestic Theatre Finish-Out

Assorted projects within the Majestic Theatre which were deferred while awaiting additional funding represent Phase IV of the preservation and restoration of the San Antonio Performing Arts Center. The estimated cost for the projects remaining in the Majestic Theatre is nearly
$2 million.

The primary focus of this phase is the future restoration of the Majestic Theatre’s upper balcony which includes a second theatre entrance, a new passenger elevator, new restroom facilities and approximately 375 seats. Other projects include decorative plaster accouterments and the installation of sound-proof doors. Restoration work will begin as funding is available.

Evaluation: Arts as an Economic Catalyst

The preservation and restoration of the Majestic Theatre and the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre and the development of the San Antonio Performing Arts Center are positive influences in the revitalization of downtown San Antonio. Businesses serving the entertainment industry are being positively affected by the greater pedestrian traffic flow of downtown visitors, resulting in increased revenues from dining, hotel bookings, parking, catering and backstage support needs.