 Following a fire in 1906, Motts renovated the entire building, increasing the capacity from 400 to 1200, including box and lodge seating.With its own “stock company of colored artists, original musical comedies, farces, and plays written and composed by colored men", the ‘New Pekin Theatre’ re-opened on March 31, 1906 with the first production of the musical "The Man from 'Bam".Hiring a collection of "talented and experienced group of theatre operatives" including Charles Sager as stage manager, J. Ed.