NEW YORK, NY.- The Kings Theatre announced that its inaugural year of programming will kick off with an opening concert by internationally acclaimed artist Diana Ross, as the newly revitalized entertainment palace opens to the public for the first time in nearly 40 years. The inaugural performance by Ms. Ross on February 3, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. follows an extensive $93.9 million restoration and renovation of the architectural gem. The largest theatre in Brooklyn with more than 3,000 seats, the Kings Theatre will serve as a cultural and economic cornerstone of the community and an extension of the borough’s cultural renaissance.

The Theatre’s 2015 programming will feature a wide range of performances by major international, national, and local talents across a range of disciplines, reflective of the diverse Brooklyn community. As part of its Grand Opening Celebration, the Kings Theatre will welcome the community with free events including open houses and theatre tours—providing the opportunity for New Yorkers to view the meticulous renovation and restoration up close. An exciting line-up of performances and community events will be announced in the coming weeks.

“One of the most beloved movie palaces of old New York, the Kings Theatre was once a centerpiece of the Flatbush community, and a major force in Brooklyn’s cultural landscape,” said Matthew Wolf, Executive Director of the Kings Theatre. “We are thrilled to welcome New Yorkers back to this historic space and to launch a new era of presenting live entertainment at the Kings with an opening performance by Diana Ross, one of the great living legends of American music.”

Led by Martinez+Johnson Architecture, the revitalization of the former Loew’s Kings Theatre—listed on the National Registry of Historic Places—faithfully restores the Theatre’s original splendor while transforming it into a modern multi-purpose performance facility. Before falling into disrepair, the Kings Theatre featured high curved ceilings, ornate plaster walls, gold-leaf ornament, crystal chandeliers, and a glazed terra-cotta ornamental façade. These original, signature elements have been restored wherever possible, and faithfully recreated when damage to the original was too great.

The Kings Theatre opened in the Flatbush neighborhood in 1929 as one of the five Loew’s ‘Wonder Theatres’ constructed in New York and New Jersey. It was designed by architecture firm Rapp & Rapp as an entertainment palace where films and vaudeville acts were presented amidst sumptuous interiors inspired by the Palace of Versailles and the Paris Opera House. The Theatre closed its doors to the public in 1977 and was acquired by the City of New York in 1983, which subsequently performed critical structural repairs. In 2008, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) launched a competitive search for an entity to undertake a major restoration and renovation, to restore the Theatre as an economic engine and cultural hub an to operate the venue. ACE Theatrical Group was awarded the project in 2010, and then formed the Kings Theatre Redevelopment Company—a consortium of ACE Theatrical Group, the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, and the National Development Council— to lead the restoration effort.

“We are thrilled that Diana Ross will sing at the opening concert of the Kings Theatre; she is an amazing artist whose deep cultural impact on diverse audiences spanning decades complements the historic space and neighborhood brilliantly,” said Margaret Anadu, Managing Director in the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group. “Kings Theatre will not only bring the community together for performances and cultural events, but will also create jobs and new opportunities for residents, and we are proud to have helped finance the restoration.”

“The revitalization of the Kings Theatre extends beyond the remarkable physical work underway; it promises significant economic stimulation for the neighborhood and borough, creating jobs and bolstering foot traffic for the surrounding business community,” said NYCEDC President Kyle Kimball. “And as a renewed center of culture in the heart of Brooklyn, this architectural treasure will present valuable community benefits while supporting New York City’s continued rise as a global capital of commerce and culture.”