The Castro Theatre, SF's queer cathedral, has reopened
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D'Arcy Drollinger, center, and performers from Sexitude danced to Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" on Saturday night. Photo: Courtesy of Rachel Z. Photography
The jewel box at the center of the Castro is open once more.
Why it matters: The Castro Theatre closed in February 2024 (102 years after first opening) for an extensive, $41 million renovation and all-around glow-up.
- The facelift involved revealing the theater's hidden proscenium arch, the installation of a digital organ (which will be revealed on March 17) and extensive hand restoration of its ornate ceiling.
Catch up quick: The theater reopened on Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a rendition of Judy Garland's "San Francisco" from local singer Ruby Day, before crowds came in for champagne and a sold-out screening of the iconic Australian drag film "The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert."
- "When you walk in there, your eyes will pop out, your heart will pound — it's back," Donna Sachet, aka the "first lady of the Castro," told Axios on opening night.
- "I'm not a religious person, but it's like our cathedral."
Friction point: The theater's new owners, Another Planet Entertainment, met with pushback over their choice to replace fixed orchestra seating with removable chairs.
- While the fixed seats only dated to the early 2000s, the switch signaled a shift for the Castro from dedicated movie house to mixed-use concert venue.
Reality check: This tester found the new seats comfortable, with a lot more leg room than before (Senator Scott Wiener — who is 6'7" — told me he also approved of them). The original fixed seating is still in place on the balcony.
- The fact remains, it's better to have a theater that stays #BookedAndBusy with new seats than another shuttered venue in SF.
By Saturday, the slide-away chairs were off the main floor and the stage exploded in glitter for D'Arcy's Drag & Disco — a party night headed up by Oasis owner and SF drag icon D'Arcy Drollinger.
- Highlights included a drag tribute to KPop Demon Hunters and a dance number dedicated to Heated Rivalry (complete with glittering hockey jerseys).
"Being asked to bring our unapologetically queer nightlife spectacular that we do at Oasis as part of the community opening was very profound," Drollinger told Axios.
- "It's beautiful that they have opened the gates with a super queer movie and a super queer party and super queer Sam Smith. It's celebratory in all the right ways."
Behind the scenes: While Oasis was known for the occasional risqué number, we have it on good authority that dancers were given a "no poles, no holes" directive for the Castro festivities.
Claire's thought bubble: After Oasis temporarily closed its doors on New Year's Eve, the city has felt a little less sparkly. But as a Castro resident, it's so wonderful to look down the hill on Castro Street and see the famous neon lit up again.
- Welcome back, Castro, and may you let no stranger wait outside your door.