Yesterday evening it was reported in the news that the Lincoln Theatre may have to close because the Council cannot find funds to support it as it has in the past. Last night an emergency board meeting was held to discuss options going forward. The board is appealing to Mayor Vincent Gray to provide funding from the city's surplus tax revenue. They are also asking donors to help the theater stay open. Please contact your Council member (Jack Evans for SMD 2B09) and ask that funds be set aside to continue supporting the Lincoln Theatre, one of the anchors of our ARTS Overlay District.
The theatre opened in 1922 to serve Washington's black residents during segregation. It was restored and reopened in 1994 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The theater has a storied past on the strip once known as America's "Black Broadway."
