![\"Shoppers](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1249_20250916_HR_SunriseMall.JPG\" "\\"Shoppers")
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Shoppers enter Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025.<\/p>\n
HANNAH RUHOFF<\/p>\n
hruhoff@sacbee.com<\/p>\n
Though Citrus Heights officials unanimously passed a new development agreement for Sunrise Mall this week, dozens of people submitted wrote to the council urging them to ensure that Royal Stage, a theater company, can maintain its location in the shopping center.<\/p>\n
Royal Stage has rented a space near the former men\u2019s Macy\u2019s building at the mallfor the past three years. Terry Tallen, CEO of Tallen Capital Partners, one of the key firms behind the proposed redevelopment project<\/a>, said Wednesday that his firm would have to look into the issue.<\/p>\n Tamara Warta, Royal Stage\u2019s founder and artistic director, said in an interview Thursday morning that she wants to see new investment in the mall. When the theater company first moved in, it was \u201cquiet, but still active.\u201d<\/p>\n Then the food court closed, and the Macy\u2019s department store. Crime increased, and the fire alarm goes off regularly, she said.<\/p>\n Warta said she wonders what will happen to the space under a series of new, proposed developments that include a sports complex, housing, hotels, retail and restaurants. She and her employees learned about the project through the news, and as of Thursday morning hadn\u2019t heard from the property owners or developers.<\/p>\n The Royal Stage, a Christian ministry, doesn\u2019t turn anyone away, regardless of their ability to pay. The group pays a base rent of $1,500 for its 8,000-square-foot space, plus utilities. Around 300 to 400 students participate in its dance classes and performances during the school year, and 600 to 700 in the summer.<\/p>\n Warta said she wants to work with any new operator who comes in.<\/p>\n \u201cBut financially,\u201d she said, \u201cthere isn\u2019t much more we can do. That makes us nervous, because if our rent gets jacked up to, you know, $1 a square foot, we can\u2019t stay.\u201d<\/p>\n In an interview Wednesday evening, Tallen said he wasn\u2019t familiar with the Royal Stage before the meeting. He said he took no issue with having a theater at the mall, but his firm will have to examine its location and how it fits into the plans for the property.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just got started on our due diligence,\u201d Tallen said. \u201cWe\u2019re just going to have to evaluate it.\u201d<\/p>\n Warta said that she had put out the call Wednesday afternoon, hours before the meeting, for students and their parents to support the Royal Stage by submitting written comments to the council.<\/p>\n During the meeting, the city clerk read each of the comments aloud to the chamber, the majority of them from residents who support the proposed development, but want to ensure the Royal Stage can remain at Sunrise Mall. After about a half hour, the council discussed whether they should continue to read each comment, given all were very similar in sentiment.<\/p>\n After a brief discussion with the city attorney, the clerk resumed reading the comments.<\/p>\n \u201cI think,\u201d said Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff, \u201cwe may have set a record.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Royal-Stage.jpg\" "\\"Royal-Stage.jpg\\"")
A curtain call at a performance of \u201cBye Bye Birdie\u201d at Royal Stage in Citrus Heights in August 2024. Tamara Warta \/ Royal Stage <\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771056008_763_MERRILEES-PHOTO.jpg\")