Vision Theatre in Leimert Park Reopens After $40 Million, 15-Year Renovation
The Vision Theatre Performing Arts Center in South Los Angeles is set to reopen after a 15-year, $40-million restoration.
After more than a decade of construction, funding hurdles, pandemic delays and supply-chain issues, the Vision Theatre Performing Arts Center is ready to welcome audiences again. The $40-million project restored the theater’s Art Deco features, introduced a 729-seat auditorium with mezzanine and balcony, enlarged stage and backstage areas, and installed cutting-edge audio-visual technology. Councilmember Heather Hutt and Cultural Affairs director Daniel Tarica described the reopening as both a celebration of the theater’s legacy and an investment in the community’s future.
The WACO Theater Center, founded by Richard Lawson and Tina Knowles, will manage programming, focusing on emerging Black artists, with a soft launch in November and a full season beginning in February 2027. Local merchants anticipate increased foot traffic and revenue, while the venue is expected to reinforce Leimert Park’s identity as a Black Cultural Arts District.
Why it matters
The theater’s reopening fuels local economic growth and expands cultural opportunities for Black artists in Los Angeles.
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