Fate Of Sacramento Community Center Theater Could Be Decided Next Month

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — After more than 40 years, the curtain could close for good at the Sacramento Community Center Theater as leaders are scheduled to decide its fate next month.

A city task force says it's time to scrap the old theater and build an entirely new one.

The theater is used about 100 days out of the year, but supporters say fixing it up could make it a much bigger draw. They're like to stretch the construction over four years during the summer months when the theater is dark.

It's home to touring Broadway acts like Newsies, as well as the Sacramento Ballet, symphony and celebrity speaker series, but now many say the 42-year-old Community Center Theater is beyond its best days.

"We've got issues from the front to the back," said Richard Lewis with California Musical Theater.

A group calling itself Transform 916 is asking the city to renovate and expand the current theater with a larger, glass-enclosed lobby, better lighting and acoustics and fix the item that receive the most complaints.

"There's one bathroom and the line for it during intermission was huge," said ticket holder Kate Dixon.

But some are concerned about the cost.

Last year, a mayoral task force recommended building a brand-new $200 million theater in a new downtown location with variable seating that could accommodate smaller performances.

But renovation supporters say the theater is already in the best spot, and building a new one could cost three times more than fixing the current one.