The 60-year-old San Diego Civic Theatre. (Photo courtesy of San Diego Civic Theatres)
For 60 years, the San Diego Civic Theatre has been where our city gathers to experience the extraordinary. From Broadway blockbusters and grand opera to comedy icons and civic celebrations, it has anchored downtown’s cultural life and brought millions of people into the heart of San Diego.
Today, as the Civic Theatre marks its 60th anniversary, it enters a new chapter. With the completion of a $7.5 million renovation and renewed investment in the surrounding Civic Center Plaza, the theatre is honoring its legacy while preparing for the future. Together, these efforts are helping shape a more vibrant, welcoming and art-centered civic core that reflects the best of our city.
A cultural and economic anchor
Since opening in 1965, the Civic Theatre has welcomed millions of guests and generated hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity. Each performance supports downtown restaurants, hotels, parking facilities and local jobs, reinforcing the theatre’s role as a powerful economic engine.
The Civic Theatre is also the only venue in San Diego large enough to host full-scale Broadway productions and grand opera. Without it, our city would lose access to touring productions such as Hamilton, Les Misérables and The Lion King, as well as the ambitious performances of the San Diego Opera. These productions require the scale, infrastructure and technical capacity that only the Civic Theatre can provide.
But the theatre’s importance goes beyond economics. For decades, it has served as a civic gathering place, fostering shared experiences that build community and keep downtown active after dark. As San Diego advances a new vision for its civic core, centered on arts, culture and civic engagement, the Civic Theatre stands ready to play a defining role in that transformation.
A coastal-inspired transformation
San Diego Theatres, which manages the Civic Theatre, has completed Phase II of its multi-year capital investment plan, delivering an extensive $7.5 million refresh focused on the guest experience. The renovation preserves the theatre’s mid-century character while introducing a fresh, coastal-inspired aesthetic drawn from San Diego’s light, landscape and proximity to the ocean.
New paint, carpeting, tile, textiles and signage create a modern yet timeless look, featuring soft sands, ocean blues and natural textures. Throughout the public spaces, guests will find thoughtful upgrades designed to enhance comfort and accessibility:
Remodeled restrooms with improved lighting, upgraded finishes and privacy stalls throughout
Enhanced concessions offering expanded food and beverage options and faster service
Updated flooring, lighting, and seating areas that blend contemporary design with the building’s architectural roots
Every element was carefully considered to ensure the space feels welcoming and inspiring, while remaining true to the theatre’s history. The next phase of work will focus inside the house, including improvements to acoustics, a rebuilt stage, and décor that aligns with the refreshed front-of-house experience.
A seamless guest experience
The Civic Theatre experience begins long before the curtain rises. From refreshed parking areas and improved wayfinding to enhanced lighting and public spaces, the full guest journey has been reimagined.
Outside, Civic Center Plaza is emerging as a lively pre-show gathering place. With funding from the Prebys Foundation and daytime programming organized by the Downtown San Diego Partnership, the plaza now features outdoor dining, live music and community activities that make it a destination in its own right. These efforts reflect a shared vision for a downtown alive with art, energy and civic pride.
Inside the theatre, guests are welcomed into an environment that matches the caliber of the performances on stage: comfortable, stylish and distinctly San Diego.
San Diego Theatres is also investing in digital tools to enhance convenience and accessibility. A new website is launching to simplify the process of finding and purchasing tickets for events at both the Civic and Balboa Theatres.
In the spring, a new mobile app will allow guests to order food and beverages directly from their seat, adding flexibility and ease to the theatre-going experience. These upgrades reflect a broader commitment to hospitality, innovation and guest-centered design, ensuring each visit is smooth, memorable and enjoyable.
A commitment to the future
The leadership and board of San Diego Theatres remain committed to ongoing investment in the Civic Theatre and its sister venue, the historic Balboa Theatre. Together, these venues welcome hundreds of thousands of guests each year and serve as the city’s primary hubs for live performing arts.
At the same time, partners such as the Prebys Foundation and the Downtown San Diego Partnership are advancing a vision for a reimagined civic core, with arts and education as a core focus. The Civic Theatre’s modernization aligns directly with that vision, demonstrating that investing in the arts is not simply about preserving a building, but about shaping a thriving, inclusive and connected city.
As the Civic Theatre celebrates six decades of memories, we invite San Diegans and visitors alike to rediscover this beloved landmark. Come downtown, experience a performance, explore the renewed Civic Center Plaza, and see the beautifully refreshed theatre for yourself.
From arrival to final applause, the Civic Theatre continues its commitment to making memories that matter. The next act of its story is unfolding now, one defined by investment, imagination and pride in the place where San Diego comes together.
Joseph Martinez is the board chair of San Diego Theatres, the nonprofit arts organization that operates the Civic Theatre and historic Balboa Theatre.
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