Los Angeles Theatres: Steve Tisch Theatre

5886 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 | map |

A view east on Wilshire shortly after removal of the scaffolding and steel supports. The theatre will be on the right, on the ground floor of the portion of the building that's south of Wilshire. Photo: Bill Counter - October 26, 2024

Opening: Perhaps Summer 2025 for LACMA member previews with the public opening of the theatre and gallery spaces scheduled for April 2026.

The new 900 foot long building will contain a theatre that's intended to be a replacement for LCMA's Bing Theatre, demolished in 2020. The building will have entrances on both sides of Wilshire Blvd.

Theatre name: It's to be named the Steve Tisch Theatre. The building it's in is called the David Geffen Galleries. The Elaine Wynn Wing north of Wilshire will have new locations for Ray's Restaurant and Stark Bar as well as an additional new cafe. The south wing, as yet unnamed, will have another cafe as well as the theatre.

Seating: It's projected to be about 300.

Architect: Peter Zumthor of Switzerland. See the museum's "Building LACMA" page.

The view east: a rendering from Atelier Peter Zumthor.

The rendering is one of several that make an appearance in "More progress for LACMA's David Geffen Galleries," Steven Sharp's April 2024 article for Urbanize. Some of his comments:

"The project, which began work in 2020, was the subject of contention at the time due to a decision by museum leadership to replace the museum's original buildings designed by William Pereira. In their place stands a new two-story structure which bridges across Wilshire Boulevard and will feature gallery space, a new theater, classrooms, restaurant space, a shop, event space, and other back-of house functions. Peter Zumthor designed the building with an amorphous footprint, with a largely concrete exterior and glass wrapping the upper gallery. The museum intends to use this space to display works such as sculptures, tiles, and ceramics which can be shown safely in natural light.

"The David Geffen Galleries, consisting of 350,000 square feet of total space and 110,000 square feet of gallery space, will actually be smaller than the buildings they replaced, which accounted for roughly 393,000 square feet of total floor area - including 120,000 square feet of galleries. LACMA has argued that the difference is accounted for by the relocation of art storage and office space to off-site locations. Likewise, the museum has pointed out that the museum's overall footprint will be 220,000 square feet after completion of the new project - up from 130,000 square feet in 2007."

Looking west on Wilshire in another rendering. The theatre and a cafe are in the area to the left.

In this rendering we're at the cafe near the theatre entrance on the south side of Wilshire.

"David Geffen Galleries Construction Enters Final Phase, April 2026 Opening Planned" was an October 2024 construction update on the "LACMA Unframed" site. In "LACMA announces opening date in 2026 as scaffolding comes down on Wilshire Blvd.," an October 25, 2024 L.A. Times article by Jessica Gelt, she comments:

"The portion of the building that perches on the south side of Wilshire, where a surface parking lot once stood, will include a cafe that will look out on the street, as well as a 300-seat theater housed in one of seven 30-foot-tall ground-level pavilions holding the museum’s exhibition floor aloft. Other pavilion bases will hold a restaurant, the LACMA store and the W.M. Keck Education Center..."

On March 11, 2025 LACMA director Michael Govan offered "LACMA Announces 2025 Plans Toward 2026 Grand Public Opening" on the "Unframed" site. Some of the comments:

"Today LACMA announced that the public will be able to begin exploring multiple features of the new David Geffen Galleries in summer 2025, as the museum prepares for the April 2026 opening of this new home for its permanent collection. Major construction of the building, designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Peter Zumthor, was completed at the end of 2024, and LACMA has begun to move in key operating functions. While this process continues, the building and its surroundings will start to come to life with installations of outdoor sculpture, the openings of dining and retail spaces, and special preview events.

"Our donors and members are the bedrock of everything LACMA does, including wide-ranging exhibitions and meaningful public programs that millions of visitors will experience in the new Geffen Galleries. Beginning in June, we plan to offer LACMA donors and members an exclusive opportunity to preview the dramatic spaces inside the building in its raw form, before art is installed. We’ll share more details in the coming months as plans for previews solidify.

"... Anchoring the plaza-level of the building, a state-of-the-art theater, located south of Wilshire Boulevard, will be the new home for LACMA’s robust schedule of film screenings, lectures, discussions, musical performances, and other public programs. Named the Steve Tisch Theater in recognition of LACMA trustee Steve Tisch’s gift to the campaign, it will function as a gallery during the day, showcasing time-based media works."

Website: Film at LACMA. Until the Tisch opens they're doing lots of online screenings for members as well as occasionally promoting screenings at the Academy Museum and other venues.

2020 - Looking west in January. The lot on the left would become the new theatre's site as part of the landing pod for the south end of the 900 foot long building. Image: Google Maps

2023 - A view east in November with the construction spanning Wilshire. Image: Google Maps

March 2024 - A Hunter Kerhart photo. This view as well as the two below were featured in a Facebook post from Urbanize. These images, as well as many more, were featured in Steven Sharp's April 13 Urbanize article "More progress for LACMA's David Geffen Galleries." See more about Hunter's work on his website: HunterKerhart.com

March 2024 - Looking toward downtown. Photo: Hunter Kerhart

March 2024 - A view west toward the Academy Museum. The theatre location is on the left, south of Wilshire. Photo: Hunter Kerhart

April 2024 - The view from the west toward the entrance plaza end of the building north of Wilshire. Photo Bill Counter

April 2024 - The north end of the building as seen from across the street with Urban Light on the left.. Photo: Bill Counter

April 2024 - Crossing Wilshire. Photo Bill Counter

May 2024 - The south end of the project destined to house a cafe and the theatre on the ground floor. Image: Google Maps

October 2024 - Looking north across Wilshire after the scaffolding had been removed. On the right it's the Japanese Pavilion. The photo by Brian van der Brug is one of four appearing with "LACMA announces opening date in 2026... " Jessica Gelt's October 25, 2024 L.A. Times article.

October 2024 -The south end of the building. Photo: Bill Counter

October 2024 - The screen end of the new theatre. Photo: Bill Counter

October 2024 - The view on Wilshire looking west with a reflection of the SAG-AFTRA Building in the glass. A cafe and the theatre entrance will be over on the left. The truck on the right was getting loaded with steel beams that had been used to support the 150' span across Wilshire. Photo: Bill Counter