Plans include removing all of the theater’s existing floor seating and replacing it with four tiered sections intended for standing room only, although the theater plans to introduce removable seating that can be moved in and out of the room. auditorium as needed, much like the current layout. from the Fox Theater in Oakland, Another Planet spokesperson David Perry told SFGATE on Friday. The fixed theater seats on the balcony will remain the same, although he added that they have “long been in need of improvements” and will likely see some upgrades alongside the hall’s legendary marquee.

“We don’t have the final designs yet, but the Castro interior footprint won’t change drastically,” Perry said.

The Fox was also a former movie theater – although it was without an audience for more than four decades instead of a year and some changes – before being transformed into a concert hall by Another Planet as part of a $73 million renovation in 2008. Previously, the historic space used folding chairs on the ground floor for hybrid events, but Perry said Another Planet was in the early stages of researching new seats and “investigates a number of flexible seating options to find the most comfortable and adaptable options.

What will happen to the old seats? Will they be given to another theatre? Perry doesn’t have a clear answer yet, and said storage plans for the new seats are still being worked out. However, he said he did not expect the capacity of the 1,400-seat venue to change.

The most notable changes to the interior of the theater include the concession stand in the main hall, which will be replaced by two concession stands at the rear of the orchestra level, while a third concession stand will be added on the mezzanine, according to the proposal. Another Planet will “significantly improve the level and types” of snacks on offer, which will be announced at a later date, Perry said. The basement will also be renovated with what planning documents describe as “program space”, but Perry clarified that it will not be used for events – the old boiler room will instead be converted into a new locker room and an ADA-accessible bathroom.

Union Square-based architectural firm Page & Turnbull will oversee the project, which awaits approval from the Historic Preservation Commission. The total estimated cost of the renovations has yet to be determined, Perry said.

Suggested changes to the building’s layout appear to reflect the Berkeley-based concert production company‘s original plans to turn it into a flexible event space where concerts, comedy and other live entertainment can be presented alongside shows. film festivals and repertoire cinema the theater is known for. But they also contrast with initial comments from Another Planet Entertainment CEO David Perloff that most of the changes, such as lighting and electrical upgrades, would not be noticeable to the average customer, and continue to raise questions about the amount of films that will be prioritized, some members. of the community said.

“The Castro is one of the best movie theaters in the world, and I’m upset that some of the proposed changes are making it worse as a movie theater,” said Kristin Lipska, a San Francisco-based archivist who has regularly attended movies at the theater since moving to the city in 2007.

Lipska believes the plan to remove seating at the theater’s orchestra level with tiered sections will “diminish the viewing experience of any event”, while screenings and film festivals that continue to take place at the theater will be compromised and will take up even more space. at other live events.

“The Castro’s sloping floor gives every seat a good view,” Lipska said. “Replacing the sloping floor with flat bleachers ruins good sightlines just so they can prioritize live music events.”

Brian Darr, volunteer for the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, SFFILM and CAAMFest, wondered if festivals should pay for the labor to install the removable seats on the ground floor of the theater.

“Made [the Castro] do you expect this to reduce bookings from festivals and organizations that have traditionally only been able to afford to book the space for one night at a time, such as the Arab Film Festival or Cinema Italia? ” he said.

Darr also wondered how the cinema could refine its projection capabilities to show 35mm and 70mm films.

“It was almost always popular – huge turnouts for ‘Vertigo’, ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, [and] “The Master,” Darr said. “If a festival wanted to show ‘Playtime’ or ‘Tron’ or the original ‘West Side Story’ in 70mm, would they be able to?”

Perry said he was aware of the concerns with proposed seating and screen visibility, and that the Castro Theater is “currently doing visibility studies to ensure optimal viewing of the films.” He also said the venue is “very sensitive to the needs and budgets” of the various film festivals and community organizations that call it home, and that he plans to negotiate event setup and troubleshooting costs on a case-by-case basis. case. He added that the theater will not be retiring its projectors and is “currently performing a thorough service on them with certified specialists.”

Lipska and Darr were troubled by the new concession stand on the upper level and whether its location inside the theater would disrupt future screenings. In response, Perry pointed out that staffing and concession operations would be scheduled so as not to interrupt film screenings.

But perhaps the biggest concern of the Castro Theater’s transition period has been the preservation of valuable facets like its live organ and vocal events, as well as its commitment to LGBTQ programming and the regularity with which director-focused double features and other repertory films — not just film festivals — would continue to screen. Perry said they would still be part of the Castro Theater event roster under Another Planet Entertainment, but added that they would not be able to confirm the frequency of each type of event.

“Once the renovation is complete and we have a better idea of ​​programming opportunities, we will be able to answer that question more accurately,” Perry said. “The Castro is sacred to the LGBTQ and film communities and we share and celebrate that legacy. Our ongoing one-on-one dialogues with LGBTQ community members and groups help us establish a programming schedule that will allow us to expand our offerings.

The Castro Theater recently hosted the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival and a sold-out live event with podcaster Jon Lovett (“Pod Save America,” “Lovett or Leave It”).

The San Francisco International Film Festival, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, a concert produced by FolkYeah featuring Bay Area-born psychedelic folk artist Grouper, and the Frameline Film Festival will be held at the venue in the coming months before the planned renovation.

This is a developing story and will be updated with more information as it becomes available..