For 115 years now, aside from being a longtime venue known for its historic significance, Empress Theatre has stood as a catalyst for entertainment in downtown Vallejo.
Last week, the theatre and its adjoining Marquee Club announced plans to add to all that tradition, expanding beyond their traditional model of solely opening their doors when a major show hits downtown.
With more than 70 nights of entertainment already scheduled – including programming extending well into 2027 – the two venues detailed plans in a recent press release to become a regular destination for live music, dinner and drinks, touring artists, community events and private celebrations.
“The idea is simple: there should be something happening often enough that people throughout Vallejo, Solano County, and the greater Bay Area can make the Empress part of their regular week,” the release read.
Daily events are starting as early as Wednesday with live blues, jazz on Thursday, all-new weekly Supper Club on Friday, and a variety of entertainment showings through the weekend.
“We want the Empress to feel like part of people’s week, not someplace they visit once or twice a year,” said Jay Johnson, Production Manager at the Empress Theatre and Marquee Club. “Vallejo already has this incredible historic theater. The goal is to keep it alive, active, and welcoming.”
Johnson, who started managing full-time for the theatre in January, says he and his team have spent the last six to eight months carefully curating a plethora of entertainment offerings for locals.
Working alongside the city, “we’re trying to open up that entire corridor — that Virginia, Georgia, and downtown quadrant to just have more people come down and experience all the great stuff there is,” he continued.
From its restaurants, mom-and-pop shops, and longtime resident-owned businesses, Downtown Vallejo “is really a central historic hub,” Johnson said. The goal of the theatre is to expand on such by opening up its diversity of entertainment offerings and culinary reach.
Later in the season, according to the press release, audiences can expect major tribute productions, internationally touring artists, “horn-driven funk, jazz,” and holiday programming as well as an expanded lineup.
The month of September brings Bay Area blues, funk, hip-hop, rock, and tribute performances, including Daniel Castro, the Funkin’ Fantastic Dance Party, Rappin’ 4-Tay, and Stroll Down Penny Lane.
Wrapped up in its recent leap towards expanded entertainment is the theatre’s adjoining Marquee Club.
New permitting now allows the space to operate as a restaurant and intimate live-music room alongside the historic Theatre, offering themed dinner experiences, Sunday’s casual “Kick Back Brunch,” and high-tea events throughout the season.
As part of expansion efforts, the theatre has also launched a completely rebuilt site at empresstheatre.org, bringing theatre events, Marquee Club programming, dining, tickets, reservations, and private-event information together in one place.
“It’s just really about making it alive, because that old theatre needs life – that’s what it feeds off of,” explained Johnson. “In this age of AI and Suno (Studio) and fake musicians and tracks, we have live music. Real people, playing for real people. That’s the goal here.”