Thalia Mara closed last year. Lumumba said it reopened; Horhn says it hasn't. What to know

Yahoo

05-08-2025

Thalia Mara Hall has officially been closed for a year — and while former Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba declared it reopened on his last day in office, current Mayor John Horhn said that's not the case.
"On the final days of the previous administration, it was announced that Thalia Mara was opened for business," Horhn said. "Unfortunately, that's not the case. There's still some things that have to be done to get us there. We're expecting in the next 30 to 60 days we'll have the improvements that are needed to get it fully opened."
The improvements include bringing the historic theater into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act by certifying its elevator — something that still hasn't been completed, Horhn said Friday, Aug. 1. The issue with the current elevator is that it is too small to meet ADA standards.
Horhn added that the mold, which initially prompted the hall's closure, is no longer an issue, and that asbestos discovered in January has also been addressed. The remaining 'major issue,' he said, is the installation of a new fire curtain, which has been ordered and should be installed 'fairly soon.'
The mayor noted that Thalia Mara still faces longer-term maintenance challenges, which he attributed to the building's age. The venue first opened in 1968.
"The exterior probably needs a face lift. There's some things we need to do to make the space more usable on the inside," Hohrn said. "When we put together the opening, we'll enunciate the longer term issues that have to be addressed at some point."
Horhn also said officials at the Mississippi Museum of Art have expressed interest in a 'whole makeover' of the surrounding cultural corridor — including Thalia Mara Hall, the museum itself, the Mississippi Arts Center, and the currently under-construction Planetarium. All four venues sit neighbor to each other along Pascagoula Street and West Street in Downtown Jackson.
Despite the setbacks, Horhn said representatives from Broadway in Jackson have already been in discussion to book shows for the 2026 season. When the theater first shut down, several Broadway performances were canceled or moved to the Mississippi Coliseum.
"We are working on a series of shows to return to Thalia Mara Hall in the future," said Joe Kosin, Broadway in Jackson's head of programming.
Kosin said it's been an 'uphill battle' following a year of canceled shows and shifting venues — but efforts are underway to bring performances back.
Since the closure, Jackson has spent nearly $3 million on repairs, according to records obtained by the Clarion Ledger through a public records request. The bulk of that — nearly $2.5 million — has gone to Guarantee Restoration Services for mold remediation, HVAC cleaning, and encapsulation of the theater.
The venue was originally scheduled to reopen in January, but a string of delays — including failed air quality tests, asbestos discovery and a failed state fire marshal inspection — have continued to push the timeline back.
The city has not announced a reopening date, but officials hope to complete repairs in the coming weeks.
Charlie Drape is the Jackson beat reporter. You can contact him at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Horhn says Thalia Mara Hall is not open despite Lumumba's claim
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