washington theater washington located street ben bowl theater located washington black broadway served city african american community segregation kept venues included movie house ballroom hosted jazz big band performers theater closed race related riots restored reopened hosts variety performances events street metro station opened located street american recording artist performed venue march original high tour history construction began summer opened showed silent film served city black community theatre designed collaboration local theater operator sold decided turn luxurious movie house added ballroom theatre wired sound ballroom known lincoln theater known center washington black broadway performers included television projection system installed movie house televised boxing fights occasions sugar ray robinson maxim bout june struggled financially opened movie theaters blacks beginning late 1950s demolished theater fell disrepair washington riots divided theaters known lincoln twins late 1970s early 1980s featured night movie shows weekend attracting hundreds weekend sold developer closed renovations theater remained boarded years restoration listed national_register_of_historic_places theatre restored million aid district_of_columbia government restoration started developer working controversial million redevelopment plan jackson plaza area ran financial difficulties filed bankruptcy restoration theater taken district government foundation restoration work design firm building brick exterior interior features victorian trim sneak preview renovated theater held september mayor kelly attendees theatre officially reopened february performance ain got long stay life march hosted play eagles fly written local playwright play told story local elderly woman fought targeted neighborhood demolition sought preserve neighborhood history seat theater hosted theatrical musical shows leased space community groups events hosted political events mayor state district address jazz performances recent years included annual duke jazz festival inaugurated hosted performances performed include singer comedian venue theater primary venue annual lgbt film festival theater struggled financially received aid annually past years district government theater director expressed concerns theater shut lack funds january district government provided theatre suggested adding annual line item city budget provide theatre year theatre threatened closure city cut funding arts took management began searching new management current operation january arts began searching new entertainment booking group operate process included evaluating business plans groups april company owns club operates selected competitors operate theatre june mayor deputy mayor arts deputy official announcement selection prior obtaining sole operation theatre booked shows including sold performances began sole operation theatre fall gaining sole operation booked nearly shows including september october november january hill february february bob february april april johnny july september october flying lotus october october october
Lincoln Theatre (Washington, D.C.)