SF's iconic Castro Theatre reopens after $41 million renovation with ribbon-cutting ceremony

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Friday, February 6 to mark the reopening of the 103-year-old, iconic Castro Theatre. It was closed for two years for a $41 million renovation.

Surrounded by prominent local drag artists, Mayor Daniel Lurie highlighted the Castro Theatre as a symbol of the city's LGBTQ+ community.

"You come to San Francisco, you love who you wanna love, you be who you wanna be, and we have your back, we always will. We always will, and this theatre, this theatre for over 100 years has been representative of that and it is going to continue to be that," he said.

RELATED: SF's Castro Theatre to reopen after 2-year renovation with Sam Smith residency

British singer Sam Smith announced an eight-night residency at the iconic Castro Theatre, which is reopening after a two-year $41 million renovation.

Last Friday's event included a screening of the cult classic film "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert."

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Here's a last look inside San Francisco's historic Castro Theatre before its $15 million renovation that is slated to take more than a year.

Events are planned through November including a Sam Smith residency that runs from February 10 -21.

"It's going to be a huge game-changer," said Nate Bourg, President of the Castro Merchants Association, back in October. "Getting a huge artist like Sam Smith, I mean I had some idea of what was going on, but getting that news this morning was a huge shot of adrenaline of what is going to be an already exciting reopening."

The Castro Theatre first opened back in 1922.