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The soon-to-be-reopened Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs will host an open-house and block party Nov. 22.
The event, which is scheduled to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is meant to showcase the restored downtown cultural landmark at 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive, according to a statement on the city’s website.
It will include tours, live music and the sale of merchandise marking the theater’s restoration. South Palm Canyon Drive will be closed to traffic from Tahquitz Canyon Way to La Plaza and used for festivities and community group booths.
The multi-million dollar renovation began two years ago, paid for with funds raised by the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation, and some contributions from the city. The theater Is scheduled to hold a gala reopening on Dec. 1.
“This historic restoration has been a challenging and rewarding project for everyone involved,” said J.R. Roberts, President of the Plaza Theatre Foundation. “It would not have been possible to accomplish this monumental project so quickly without the extraordinary work of our Board and construction team, which ensured that this project was able to proceed without delays and allow us to reopen this vital Palm Springs icon.”
Opened in 1936, the downtown theater was home to movie premieres, stage shows and live national radio broadcasts. It shut down in 2014 and fell into disrepair while vacant, prompting the city to buy the property.
