History at the Lincoln Theater

Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its grand reopening. In 1993, Carlee Leftwich, then mayor of Yountville and her husband Dr. William Leftwich invited a group of people to their home to discuss what could be done to improve the Lincoln Theater. The theater was constructed in 1957 on the grounds of the Yountville Veterans Home as a way of entertaining resident veterans. The theater had housed several musical groups and had been used by many community organizations for dance, musical and theatrical performances. The Leftwichs were inspired.

The small group brainstormed on what the theater would need to be a first class facility. It would have air conditioning, because the theater was usually not used in the hot, summer months. The sound and lighting systems desperately needed to be updated. The facilities would be expanded to accommodate larger crowds. They would add modern bathroom facilities and a symphony hall worthy of a real orchestra. The dream list also included balcony boxes, excellent acoustics and a gorgeous lobby. That night, the Friends of the Lincoln Theater formed and created a group that would take on a massive project.

The project took 12 years, hundreds of people, an immeasurable amount of patience and fundraising to the point of gathering $22 million. The Friends of the Lincoln Theater worked closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Home Administrator, California Department of General Services, the town of Yountville, Veterans Home residents and countless local people.

The Friends of the Lincoln Theater can never thank the leaders enough, for their time, patience and dedication. Thank you to Jack Morgan, the Chairman at the reopening and Donna Morgan, who still impress us with their dedication the the theater. Thank you to Carlee Leftwich, who patiently tried to explain how they convinced everyone to work hard to recreate this beautiful facility. Clarke and Elizabeth Swanson, Margrit Biever Mondavi and Glenn Brown gave so much as founding board members. Lawrence Papale was the President of the original Friends of the Lincoln Theater, Les Breckenridge, Donald Carr, and W. Clarke Swanson were Vice Presidents and Anthony L. Ganze. Carlee Leftwich was the secretary and the Executive Director was Michael Savage. The board members were William and Carolyn Bacigalupi, Karen Breckenridge, Glenn Browne, Claudia Eisele, Laurie Gordon, Agustin Huneeus, Richard Martin, Marcella McCormack, Diane Miller, Ronald Miller, Margrit Mondavi, Jean Phillips, Grant Showley, Elizabeth Swanson and Rita Umphries. These people, and the Carrs, will always be the most esteemed colleagues in the Lincoln Theater Family.

In celebration, the Symphony Napa Valley Presents: A Grand Overture - 10th Anniversary Gala will be held at the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater Saturday, November 21, 2015 @ 5:00 PM. Tickets are available at lincolntheater.org or you may call (707) 944-9900.