The historic Howard Theatre in Shaw will open its doors once more in April after a $29 million renovation. To celebrate the occasion, a bunch of top musical acts and bold-faced names will be parading through the fully restored venue this spring.
We hear that Smokey Robinson and comedian Wanda Sykes will be on hand at the Grand Opening Gala Fundraiser on April 12, which will honor Motown Records founder and producer Berry Gordy, who plans to attend.
The space officially opens the week of April 9, with performances from D.C.-based rapper Wale, The Roots, Chuck Brown and Sykes, who will do stand-up. Other artists including Chuck Berry, Chaka Khan, Esperanza Spalding and Boyz II Men have committed to play dates at the venue as well.
The Howard Theatre was originally constructed in 1910 as a vaudeville and live theater venue, was briefly converted into a church after the 1929 stock market, and then was restored to a theater for musical acts, starting with Duke Ellington, in 1931. In 1980 the theater closed after helping launch the careers of Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye and The Supremes.
