Preview: Celebrating the Legacy

Just a few months ago, things looked bad for Celebration Arts, the area’s only theater company dedicated to preserving and presenting the African American experience in drama, dance and music. The company lost its lease on the East Sacramento home it held for 23 years.

Finding an affordable replacement home seemed an impossibility. A hoped-for home in the smaller of the B Street Theatre buildings was expensive and seemed to be out of the question, as the owner wanted to sell the complex as one piece.

Things have changed, and Celebration Arts is now working its way toward that B Street theater space. “We have vacated the (old) building,” executive director James Wheatley said, “and have committed to lease … one of the theaters soon to be released by the B Street Theatre (which is moving to a new home in the Sofia complex on Capitol Avenue).”

It would triple the Celebration Arts space, from 2,000 square feet to a little over 6,000 square feet. The company hopes to take occupancy in January.

It’s a costly move, and on October 31, the theater company launched a Celebrating the Legacy fund drive with a goal of raising $100,000. The drive will culminate in January with An Evening With Celebration Arts Gala, with details still being worked out.