According to a report in The Dallas Morning News, the historic Texas Theatre is adding a second auditorium – by repurposing the balcony area. 

The report, by Jeremy Hallock, details a new construction project (which began this week) that will convert the theater’s empty balcony into a smaller, second auditorium that will seat 165.

The new auditorium will be accessible by elevator and by the original stairwell, which has been closed to the public for over 40 years. The $2 million project will be completed by spring or summer of 2021.

“It was always the goal that we wouldn’t be finished fixing the theater until we could make use of the balcony,” operator Barak Epstein said.