Vision Theatre reopens after a $40 million renovation

By Daniel Okafor

WACO Theater Center says the Vision Theatre Performing Arts Center in South Los Angeles will reopen after a $40 million investment and 15 years of extensive renovations. Tina Knowles, WACO’s founder and artistic director, leads the reopening effort with executive director Shay Wafer. The celebration runs Nov. 13 through Nov. 15 in Leimert Park. The civic project is substantial; the opening program resembles a neighborhood block party more than a formal gala.

What does the reopening celebrate?

“The reopening represents more than the return of a historic theater,” a WACO Theater Center release said. The announcement frames the celebration as an homage to Black creativity, cultural preservation and artistic excellence. It also describes Leimert Park as a neighborhood that has served as the heartbeat of Black arts and culture in Los Angeles for generations.

The announcement dates the theater to 1931 and describes its Art Deco (streamlined geometric design) façade as a defining feature of the Leimert Park Village skyline. The building has stood for nearly a century and is described as one of South Los Angeles’ iconic architectural and cultural landmarks.

According to the announcement, award-winning actress Marla Gibbs bought the building in 1990, renamed it the Vision Theatre and envisioned a thriving home for Black arts, culture and community. An initial renovation ended in 2011. The City-led current project began in 2015.

The office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass helped launch the partnership between WACO and the Department of Cultural Affairs. That municipal partnership established the basis for the theater’s long-term activation, according to the announcement.

What happens during the three-day celebration?

WACO’s announcement says Wells Fargo presents the homecoming. Live performances, music, entertainment and community festivities fill the three-day program.

• A family-friendly, “Proud Family”-themed block party and a screening of the Disney+ holiday special “A Proud Family Wizmas.”
• A conversation with the cast of Netflix’s “A Different World.”
• An intimate evening with “Club 20/20” and “House Guest with Scott Evans,” sponsored by Cécred and curated by Knowles.
• A Sunday concert launching the WACO at the Vision Music Series, featuring a live band led by Steve Mackey’s Taco Tuesdays, The Sessions L.A. and The Crockpock.

“Leimert Park has always been a place where Black culture, creativity and community come together. To be part of bringing this beautiful theater back to life is incredibly meaningful,” Tina Knowles said in a statement.

Knowles said she wants young people to walk through the doors and see a future for themselves in the arts. She wants artists to have a place where their stories are celebrated. She also wants the community to know the theater belongs to them. The project honors earlier generations while creating something for future ones.

What has changed inside the theater?

The announcement lists a 729-seat auditorium, a newly built mezzanine (upper seating level) and balcony, expanded stage and backstage facilities, and upgraded audio, visual and broadcast technology. The completed venue will support live theater, music, dance, multidisciplinary performances (work combining several art forms), arts education and community-centered cultural programming.

Daniel Tarica, general manager of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, said the project combines historic preservation with state-of-the-art venue upgrades. He called it a world-class cultural venue that all Angelenos can be proud of. He also described it as a main stage for local talent, a community resource and a cultural destination for everyone.

How will WACO operate the Vision?

WACO Theater Center will serve as co-operator and co-manager of the Vision Theatre Performing Arts Center, working in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, according to the announcement.

Founded in 2016, WACO has championed the transformative power of the arts, with a focus on African diaspora experiences and cultural heritage. Now housed at the Vision, it plans to expand its reach through theatrical productions, live music, dance, visual arts, multidisciplinary performances and educational programming.

Executive director Shay Wafer called the reopening an investment in South Los Angeles and its artists. He said the theater should operate year-round, giving artists space to develop and present new work and young people meaningful arts education. Audiences should find world-class programming in Leimert Park, he said. He described the goal as a sustainable home for creativity, opportunity and community connection.

The renovation is complete. The harder part is keeping the room active beyond opening night. All activities are free and open to the public, with an RSVP requested. Ticketing, registration and additional program details will be available on WACO Theater Center’s website.

The celebration is presented in collaboration with the City of Los Angeles DCA, WACO’s municipal co-management partner for the Vision. Sponsors include Wells Fargo, Cécred and Walt Disney Entertainment; KBLA Talk 1580 is the media partner. PRG, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, Blackhouse Radio and the Leimert Park Village Merchant Cohort add support and participation.

The next test is whether the program remains active after Nov. 15. The announced year-round schedule must now sustain the $40 million restoration and give South Los Angeles artists a durable home.