Community Update on Paul Poag Theatre Restoration Project

Able City, the architectural firm leading the restoration of the Paul Poag Theatre, hosted a meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 to update community members about the progress of the $3.5 million dollar restoration project and gather input from those who know the theatre best. 

The meeting, which had a large turnout, began with Ricardo Solis, Able City Partner and Principal Architect, providing a historical overview of the theatre’s rich history in Del Rio. Paul Poag, the theatre’s namesake, arrived in Del Rio in 1924 as a railroad worker, settling in the community shortly after WWI. In 1929, The Princess Theatre was opened in partnership with a motion picture company that Poag was familiar with, bringing the most popular pictures of the time to Del Rio. In 1941, the Rita Theatre, now the Paul Poag opened its doors, first as a movie house, before becoming a working theatre. In 1943, the theatre tragically burned down and was rebuilt in just seven months with many of the remnants of the fire still present and visible in the theatre today. 

After years of private ownership and operation after the death of Poag, it was given to the city of Del Rio in 1980, when it was renamed the Paul Poag Theatre and renovated by a group of advocates who transformed it from a movie house into the performing arts center and functioning theatre that the community enjoyed until its closure in 2023. 

The presentation was then passed over to Victor Montes, Project Manager/Associate at Able City, who presented the firm’s findings during their assessment of the theatre. “We’ve completed the site survey where we’ve been able to locate the building and the utilities and all the services around it, so we’ve been able to pinpoint the building and where it is,” Montes began. “With that we’ve been able to figure out that there’s some utilities that need restoration and that sort of thing.” 

“We are also working on creating an assessment report, so we gathered a team of engineers that walked the building, took some photos, checked the light fixtures, wiring, those sorts of things,” he continued.  

Along with the ongoing assessment report and completed site survey, the building scan has been completed, existing documents completed, while the visioning, programming, preliminary design, cost estimating, and scheduling are all still ongoing. 

He also shared that the assessment report will be broken down into four parts: Part 1: Theatre’s History, Part II: Existing Condition Drawings and Assessment, Part III: Visioning, Programming & Preliminary Design, and Part IV: Economic Analysis and Urban Analysis. Able City is currently working with the city to complete Part II of the assessment report. 

“We took the time to really get in here and get a feel for what we’re working with,” Montes stated while showing the scan of the building done by an engineering team. “We don’t want to make any guesses when it comes to restorations.”

Boards of the existing floorplans that Able City was able to create after the scan were on display during the meeting, open for feedback from the community ahead of the restoration and redesign. 

Montes noted the issues that caused the original closure of the theatre and the things they will be working with the city to tackle in their preliminary designs and restoration of the building: 

• Restoration of the canopy above the entrance 

• Fire suppression repairs 

• Electrical repairs/code 

• Fire Code Regulations 

• HVAC Repairs 

• FDC Connection Access

• ADA Compliance including ADA complaint ramp at the entrance of the theatre, accessible seating, and ADA accessible entrance to the stage

• IBC Code (International Building Code)

The restoration will be divided into three tiers: Tier 1 being the collaboration with the city to get the building up to code, Tier 2 being maintenance upkeep, and Tier 3 being the process of beautifying the aesthetic of the building once again and restoring its original charm as much as possible. 

Ricardo Solis also shared with those in attendance that Able City will also be seeking historical designation for the Paul Poag Theatre alongside the restoration project. “Not only will you get a plaque but it opens up opportunities for tax credits and funding to bring the theatre back.” 

After conducting research and lengthy conversations at the December 2024 stakeholders committee meeting, Sabrina Lopez, Able City Community Engagement Coordinator, shared that they took into account the types of events previously held at the theatre, (plays, concerts, performances, comedy shows, private events, movies, etc), they were able to get a good idea of what events the city would like to see held once the theatre is reopened. 

Community members added their input to the floor plans on display.

“In doing our research we saw that the Paul Poag Theatre was used for many, many different types of events and something that we discussed with the stakeholders was what kind of events would you all like to have while acknowledging all the events that have come to pass already,” Lopez shared. “The biggest responses on what people want to see were professional acts, roadshows, dinner theatre, set design, dance recitals, theatre competitions, piano concerts, bookings for private events, pro-wrestling, pageants, and film festivals.” 

The stakeholders also worked with Able City to establish the guiding principles for the theatre: 

Iconic: Paul Poag should be an iconic landmark of Downtown Del Rio

Authentic: Paul Poag should remain true to Del Rio’s culture and history

Accessible: Paul Poag should be welcoming and affordable to all

Memorative: Paul Poag should honor and celebrate its history 

They also developed a Mission Statement: 

“The Paul Poag Theatre provides the richness of a quality venue for visitors and its community to express themselves creatively and to experience cultural events and performances because every first class city has a first class performing arts center.” 

As well as a Vision Statement: 

“The historic Paul Poag Theatre is the cultural home for performing arts that provides a platform of opportunity to showcase local talent and beyond.” 

Some of the exterior features that community members wanted to see in the restoration included: parking, canopy restoration, fencing around the back, expansion of tight loading area, exterior water spout. 

Some interior features that community members wanted to see included: 

Storage, closed off fire riser, balcony lighting, restrooms in the back of house, green room. 

A survey was shared with the community members in attendance for feedback and the floor was opened for questions. The biggest question raised by community members, frequent theatre goers and long-time Upstagers members was WHEN will this be complete and how soon will the Paul Poag Theatre be open and functional. 

While Able City cannot yet provide dates for completion and reopening, Ricardo Solis assured that, “This theatre is very important, not only to you guys, but to us as well because we love this kind of work, so with that said we will try to get the building open and take care of the safety issues first, then go from there.” 

“We’ll certainly work with the city, I don’t want to put a date on it because we’re still working on the assessment report but we’ll certainly visit with the staff and the city manager and council, we’ll be making a presentation to council I think next month, by then we should have a better idea of what those timeframes will look like,” Solis concluded.