About Us

A Home for the Arts in San Antonio

Welcome to

The Majestic Empire Foundation

Founded in 1988 as part of the effort behind the restoration of San Antonio’s historic Majestic and Empire Theatres, The Majestic Empire Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the development of the performing arts through education and scholarships and the restoration and preservation of historic theatres.

The San Antonio Performing Arts Center, the name for the combined venues of the Majestic Theatre and the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, was officially dedicated on September 11, 1989.

THE MAJESTIC EMPIRE FOUNDATION TAKES CENTER STAGE WITH REBRAND

As we embark on our 36th year of unwavering commitment to the performing arts in San Antonio, we are excited to announce a pivotal moment in its evolution. Las Casas Foundation is transitioning to a new identity as The Majestic Empire Foundation. This change, articulated by our newly appointed Executive Director, Jaselyn Blanchard-Pace, aligns with our anticipation of the Majestic Theatre’s centennial in 2029. This rebranding not only honors the legacy of our founder, the late Joci Straus, but also showcases our commitment to nurturing the performing arts and restoring historic theatres — in particular our crown jewels, The Majestic Theater and The Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. It underscores our support for emerging talent and our dedication to enriching the cultural landscape of San Antonio all the way to the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

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Annual Awards Competitions
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Scholarship Dollars Gifted to Students since 2009
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Theater Preservations
Get to Know Us
Our Mission

The Majestic Empire Foundation invests in the past, present, and future of the performing arts by preserving historic theatres, cultivating young theatre artists, and supporting theatre programs within the community.

Our Vision

The performing arts – the people who create them and the spaces where they are created – are critical to San Antonians’ daily lives and inspire human transformation and cultural and civic engagement.

History

The Majestic Empire Foundation’s 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 San Antonio Performing Arts Center®, the name for the combined venues of the Majestic Theatre and the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, was officially dedicated on September 11, 1989.

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) McCombs. 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® is now formally known as The Joci Straus Performing Arts Center in honor of Straus’ tireless dedication to the San Antonio performing arts community.

As part of furthering its mission to develop the performing arts in San Antonio, the The Majestic Empire Foundation Performing Arts Scholarship Program was created for college-bound high school students to assist them in their future education and produce continuing art lovers, supporters and audience members. The Foundation works to nurture the performing arts through education and exposure and is committed to developing additional educational efforts that support the development of the performing arts.

Our History

Timeless Passion

1929
Heart of the City

The Majestic Empire Foundation’s 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.

 

1989
Restoring the Past

 In 1988-1989, it took 11 months to restore at an approximate cost of $4.5 million.

The San Antonio Performing Arts Center®, the name for the combined venues of the Majestic Theatre and the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, was officially dedicated on September 11, 1989.

1998
Vision for Permanence

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) McCombs. After being dark for nearly 25 years, this golden jewel was restored in 1998 at an approximate cost of $5.5 million.

2000
Love & Performance

The San Antonio Performing Arts Center® is now formally known as The Joci Straus Performing Arts Center in honor of Straus’ tireless dedication to the San Antonio performing arts community.

Present
Home of the Arts

As part of furthering its mission to develop the performing arts in San Antonio, the The Majestic Empire Foundation Performing Arts Scholarship Program was created for college-bound high school students to assist them in their future education and produce continuing art lovers, supporters and audience members.

What we do

Education, Preservation & Invigoration

JUST A FEW OF OUR AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

THANK YOU TO OUR JOCI AWARDS SPONSORS