The work was not without controversy. Fearful of losing an icon of queer culture, a large, vocal segment of the LGBTQ+ community unsuccessfully fought<\/a> to turn management over to a nonprofit. Many were angry about the displacement of a nail salon and coffee shop that rented street-facing units inside the theater. Others bemoaned how the protracted closure reduced foot traffic in the nightlife-heavy<\/a> neighborhood.<\/p>\n But after taking a tour of the new space, we suspect many critics will be awestruck by the results. It helps that the theater\u2019s recently released musical and cinematic calendars<\/a> are replete with local talent and LGBTQ+ artists, crowned by a 20-date Sam Smith residency.\u00a0<\/p>\n From basement to balcony, here is everything that\u2019s new at the Castro. Take a look for yourself.<\/p>\n Another Planet Entertainment assembled a team of acousticians, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, and architects who were all dismayed at the theater\u2019s dismal state. There was asbestos. There was lead. Signs of neglect were everywhere, and standing water in the basement had eaten into the concrete walls.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey said, \u2018If this building just sits here as is on its own, in a few years, things are literally going to start falling,\u2019\u201d APE Senior VP Mary Conde recalled. So the sewage, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems are all new. Even the vestibule ticket booth\u2019s stained glass has been replaced. \u201cWe didn\u2019t cut any corners,\u201d Conde added.<\/p>\n For performers and talent, there are now three green rooms, all with updated facilities. From the perspective of the audience, there is a new movie screen, Dolby sound system, and digital projector. And the vertical neon sign, the neighborhood\u2019s biggest landmark, is fully functioning once again.<\/p>\n The interior is beautiful \u2014 and ADA-compliant<\/p>\n Above all, it will be hard not to get a crick in one\u2019s neck from staring up. Decades of accumulated cigarette smoke have been cleaned from the walls and ceiling, and the architect Timothy Pflueger\u2019s many art deco details are newly apparent. Early in the renovation, workers uncovered a proscenium arch<\/a> that had been obscured since at least the 1960s, and its Egyptian-style scrollwork now frames the stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n Throughout the auditorium, cherubs, devils, and mythological figures are newly visible, and the striking, 30-by-30 pastoral murals that flank the space have been brightened. The only missing elements are two large movie posters, of \u201cBreakfast at Tiffany\u2019s\u201d and \u201cDer Blaue Engel,\u201d which the Nasser family \u2014 who own the theater \u2014 removed.<\/p>\n More important, the Castro is now more accessible. The angle of the floor \u2014 or \u201crake,\u201d in theater parlance \u2014 has been slightly reduced, with a lift installed, to ensure that wheelchair users aren\u2019t relegated to the front rows.<\/p>\n It\u2019s smaller, and (almost) all the seats are new<\/p>\n The old Castro had a fixed capacity of 1,408. Now there\u2019s room for 1,385 standing patrons, dropping to 1,115 when the seats are installed. That\u2019s because the removable seats are slightly larger, with an additional 6 inches of space per row (allowing people to remain seated if their neighbor gets up for popcorn). And unlike the old, cramped, wooden seats, the new ones are cushioned, with ergonomic seat rests. And cup holders, finally!\u00a0<\/p>\n Not all the seating is new, however. One section of cast-iron seats in the balcony was deemed significant by the Historical Preservation Commission, meaning it cannot be removed or altered. So the seats remain, a testament to the past<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are way more toilets<\/p>\n In a big change, the former men\u2019s room is now the women\u2019s room, and the women\u2019s room is now a \u201cmen\u2019s\/unisex\u201d room. Each has more stalls and urinals, doubling the theater\u2019s facilities and, in theory, preventing those long, snaking queues from forming during intermission.\u00a0<\/p>\n And the organ is coming soon![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770343153_523_-S3840x5120-FPNG.png\"\/)
The walls have been painstakingly scrubbed of decades worth of dirt.![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770343155_275_-S3840x5120-FPNG.png\"\/)
The ends of the aisles are meant to resemble architect Timothy Pflueger\u2019s designs.The building is ready for its next 100 years<\/p>\n![\"Empty](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770343155_999_-S3840x2880-FPNG.png\"\/)
The floor seating is flexible, to accommodate changes from film screenings to concerts.<\/p>\n![\"Rows](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770343157_188_-S3840x5120-FPNG.png\"\/)
One section of original seats remains in the balcony. No cup holders there!![\"Ornate](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770343159_554_-S3840x5120-FPNG.png\"\/)
The ceiling might be the most dazzling detail.<\/p>\n![\"Ornate](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770343159_551_-S3840x2880-FPNG.png\"\/)
The entrance has been painstakingly restored, right down to the replacement of the ticket booth\u2019s stained glass.<\/p>\n