Yakima’s Capitol Theatre proudly overlooks 3rd Street, its detailed architecture and classical brickwork making the building’s façade a piece of artwork in its own regard. Once inside the Theatre, though, the legacy of music, art, and culture truly comes to life. The Capitol Theatre has been a historic touchpoint in the Yakima community since the building’s foundations were laid in 1919.
Now, the Theatre has served as a focal point of the artistic scene in Yakima Valley for over one hundred years– and there’s yet more in store to look forward to. Learn about the Theatre’s story, cultural impact, and how you can be a part of its legacy, whether from the audience or on the stage.
Infused With Art: The Past
When Frederick Mercy, Sr. first dreamed of building his own vaudeville theatre, downtown Yakima did not yet have any facility for housing entertainment or encouraging the arts. Encouraged by the success of Benjamin Marcus Priteca’s collaborations with Alexander Pantages on the beautifully intricate Pantages theatres, Mercy decided to enlist Priteca’s help in bringing his dream to life. Beginning with the first Pantages Theater, built in San Francisco in 1911, Priteca’s career encompassed the designs of over 150 notable theatres across the western United States. Mercy also commissioned Tony Heinsbergen, a talented muralist whose work became the standard for American theatre interiors, to create the stunning decorative murals you can enjoy inside the Capitol Theatre.
On April 5, 1920, the then-christened Mercy Theatre opened its doors with a showing of Sigmund Romberg’s “Maytime.”Mercy Theatre was the largest vaudeville theatre in the Pacific Northwest, and Yakima residents and guests from surrounding communities enjoyed everything a new facility of the arts had to offer. Only a short year later, the name was changed to The Capitol Theatre, but the story of Frederick Mercy was just beginning.
As the popularity and accessibility of motion pictures grew, the interest in vaudeville performances waned. The Capitol Theatre wasn’t always able to retain the interest of its patrons. However, it incorporated a combination of vaudeville and movie showings, and the early 1970s saw the Theatre up for sale.
In 1972, the Allied Arts Council established only a decade prior with the goal of promoting and facilitating art appreciation in Central Washington, decided to partner with the City of Yakima to reclaim the building for community use. Local citizens on the Council stood up for the Theatre, placing it on the National Register of Historic Sites in April of 1973, 53 years after its opening show.
Although finalizing the transfer of ownership from the Mercy family to the City of Yakima allowed the Theatre to continue functioning and growing, the years surrounding the transition weren’t exactly smooth sailing. Only a few days after the sale was made official, an unforeseen electrical short caused a fire that destroyed almost every element of the Theatre’s beloved interior. The external façade remained standing, along with the stage house and a few sections of the audience seating, but there was a long road of restoration ahead.
Architect Bill Paddock, along with the Allied Arts Council and many others, were not deterred by the amount of work needed to restore the Theatre to its former glory. Citizens formed a nonprofit group named the Capitol Theatre Committee to raise funding, lobby for insurance settlements, and request grants from the city. Pretica’s original designs were maintained as much as possible through cast molds and photos. Heinsbergen himself, then 83 years old, returned from retirement to paint his final commissioned work, a new masterpiece of a mural on the ceiling of the reconstructed Theatre.
The Premiere Performing Arts Venue of the Valley: The Present
In November of 1978, after a little more than two years of dedication and hard work, the Capitol Theatre reopened to the public with a grand ceremony. The mission of the Theatre then, and ever since, aims to “curate dynamic programming, foster community access, and perpetuate the Theatre’s historical and cultural legacy.”
Now considered the premiere performing arts venue in the Yakima Valley, the Capitol Theatre Committee presents and hosts events year-round to welcome performers, producers, and audiences from all across the state through the Theatre’s embossed double doors. The stage features local concerts, plays, and performers and is home to the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Yakima Town Hall, and the Capitol Kids series to inspire local students through performances and workshops. The 4th Street Theatre, opened in early 2011, is also a regular part of the Capitol Theatre’s growing community of events as a 400-seat performance venue.
Become a Part of the Story: The Future
As the performing arts community of the Capitol Theatre grows, so do the many ways you can be involved. Join as an audience member for an upcoming show, whether that be The Capitol Best’s February 2025 production of “Annie,” Grand Kyiv Ballet’s “Swan Lake” in March, or the concert-drama “Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín” as performed by the Yakima Symphony Orchestra in late spring. You can also come alongside the Capitol Theatre by supporting the nonprofit through donations or as a Capitol Friend, a special patron of the arts with access to exclusive opportunities surrounding events and programming. If you’re interested in learning more about the behind-the-scenes of performing arts, you can volunteer to be a part of the Capitol Theatre community to help bring the stage to life.
The history, mission, and vision of the Capitol Theatre is an inspiring testament to the artistic heartbeat of the Yakima Valley. Whether it be from the seats or from the stage, consider learning more about how you can be a part of the performing arts scene as the Capitol Theatre looks toward a bright future.
The Capitol Theatre
19 S. 3rd Street,Yakima
509.853.2787
