Did You Know?
Facing a yet another delay in its inaugural opening in February 1912, it was reported in the Vallejo Evening Chronicle that theatre manager Gus Cohen had requested “a large sandbox be placed in the center of the hall in which a huge fire would then be built to assist in the drying of the plastered walls and ceiling.”
Overview
The Empress Theatre is an historic and elegant mixed-use performing arts center located in downtown Vallejo, California. The newly renovated and restored theater is the centerpiece of an exciting renaissance of downtown art, entertainment and dining. The theater is located on Virginia Street, one block from Georgia Street—downtown's main avenue and shopping haven.
The Empress enriches the lives of the Vallejo and North Bay communities by bringing popular entertainers and artists of national and international stature to Vallejo. The theater is also home to community productions, concerts by local & regional musicians, symphony, theatre and dance performances as well as providing a local venue in which to see independent and foreign film.
The Operators
The Empress Theatre is operated and maintained by the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation (VCAF), a nonprofit public benefit corporation.
For over 15 years VCAF has been promoting and sponsoring arts organizations, artists and special community events, presenting award-winning art exhibitions, hosting public forums, providing grants to arts groups, and offering arts education programs such as our highly praised Summer Arts Camp for children 7-14 years of age.
The Foundation serves as an "umbrella organization" to small Vallejo arts groups and special projects, enabling them to develop funding and awareness for their programs.
The Empress is the largest of VCAF's three programs which are:
One: The Fetterly Program which encompasses all activities at the Fetterly Playhouse, Gallery and facility, and the build-out of the Playhouse.
Two: The Empress Program which is specific to the renovation, development, management and operation of the Empress Theatre.
Three: The Community Program which includes all other programs of the Foundation, including re-granting to arts organizations, satellite exhibitions, community events, children's summer art workshops, etc.
Management Team
Under VCAF's oversight, the Empress Theatre is managed by the Empress Management Group, a team of local community leaders and marketing, business, management, finance, and fundraising professionals. The members of the Management Group serve without compensation.
This team is also advised by the community-based Entertainment Advisory Committee, a collective of local arts leaders from each of the performing arts and entertainment genres and each of Vallejo's diverse ethnic and cultural communities. This input allows the Empress's programming to be one of the most diverse -- and most reflective of Vallejo's diverse community—of any civic performing arts facility.