✰PREMIUM
Kings Theatre celebrates its 10th anniversary reopening with return of music legend Diana Ross

International icon Diana Ross made a special return appearance, packing the house at the Kings Theatre on the opening day of her two-day “Celebrating Timeless Classics” tour on Friday, Feb. 28. Ross marked the 10th anniversary of the Kings Theatre’s reopening, where she first performed in 2015 at the landmark located at 1027 Flatbush Ave. 

After a short autobiographical film about her life in the sold out 3,132 seat auditorium, Ross made her anticipated grand entrance wearing a glittering orange sequin outfit with an overlay of chiffon ruffles that trailed behind her. The crowd responded to her presence with a standing ovation. 

“I grew up with every song that she sang,” Fresh Meadows resident John Amato said. “Someone as ageless as Diana Ross is still bringing people together and making people feel good about their own lives and making people realize that we can all have a dream and accomplish that.”

The octogenarian sang hit after hit from her Grammy Award-winning repertoire known around the world. Ross’s appearance and voice showed no evidence of change since she performed with the Supremes in the 1960s and her decades-long solo career.

Ross hasn’t skipped a beat since then, bringing a dazzling show filled with spectacular multimedia effects, positive messages of love and gratitude and special moments interspersed throughout the performance.

Audience members created a light brigade as they raised their lit phones to sway to the words of “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand).” 

While still holding the lights up, Ross invited them to be in a virtual recording to talk to the Brit Awards in London. Ross asked to turn the cameras around so they could see themselves on the big screen onstage as she congratulated singer/songwriter Sabrina Carpenter for winning the Global Success Award ahead of her UK tour planned for the summer. 

Ross took time to thank and recognize her band and singers, as well as the audience, connecting with them on an emotional and spiritual level as she invited them to repeat her favorite mantra with her: “I’m so grateful for all the blessings in my life because there are many.”

Ross introduced her singer and songwriter daughter, Rhonda, and performed a touching mother/daughter duet with her with a song Rhonda wrote for her mother. Ross’s daughter talked about keeping a mindset to be balanced and unafraid during these times. She inherited a beautiful singing voice.

Many of the audience members dressed to impress and reflected Ross’ glamorous style. A lot of them remembered Ross for her 1983 performance at Central Park where she performed in the driving rain and lightning storm, cementing her reputation as a true professional.

This event was Clinton Hill resident Marlenê Duperley’s first time at Kings Theatre. She marveled at the beauty of the ornate Palace of Versailles and Paris Opera House, 18th century Rococo inspired details of the cavernous interior with its detailed high-vaulted and curved ceilings, heavy red drapery and carpeting, walnut walls with high columns and massive chandeliers — many weighing a ton each. Duperley was fulfilling her lifelong dream of seeing Diana Ross in concert. 

“She’s a fashion icon and I’m all into that, style and fashion,” Duperley said. “I think that she has changed the game when it comes to her looks, her music, and she’s still very relevant to me at 80 — she’s amazing.” 

Another longtime fan came by car from Orange County, NY and said this was his 66th time seeing her perform. “Whenever I come, I am always in the first three rows,” Patrick Grable said. “Sometimes, before the end of the show, she’ll acknowledge me.”

Debra and Chundera Epps came by the Long Island Rail Road for a birthday celebration for their deceased middle sister. It was a sentimental journey.  

“For her 50th birthday, we had a slumber party and played all of Diana Ross’ songs in pajamas,” Epps said. “This is for her tonight.” 

Closer to home, Beautiful Winston and her daughter Jassmin Yalley came from Flatbush. A group of nine family and friends who were looking for a nice way to have a reunion in the neighborhood also hailed from Flatbush.

Winston’s favorite song was “Do You Know Where You’re Going To” from the soundtrack of the 1975 movie “Mahogany,” in which Ross played the central character.

Some of the family members remembered when Kings Theatre was a movie theatre in the 70s when there were many theatres in the area, which have now been converted to other uses.

They spoke about the changes in the neighborhood with the construction of six large new buildings behind the theatre and a new construction site at the corner. Many liked the changes and the added vibrancy to the neighborhood because of increased foot traffic and bustling businesses.

Others disagreed. “I’m quite unhappy about the gentrification,” Winston said. “I could afford to stay here, but a lot of people that I grew up with could not. They have gone to so many places, and it’s upsetting that I can’t go and visit my friends. It’s still a part of me, recognizing that inclusivity means a community.”

Kings Theatre General Manager Kate Hesler and Marketing Manager Nicole Keiser provided some interesting information about the role that the theatre played as an integral part of the community.

Kings Theatre, the “Crown Jewel of Flatbush,” was  built in 1929 and started out as a Loews Wonder Theater, one of five lavishly designed movie theatres. It closed down in 1977 and lay dormant for many years until there was a $95 million restoration to the building before it reopened in 2015. 

Today, they have about 90 shows a year. “Every show is different, every audience is different, every audience vibes differently,” Hesler said, adding that they work with the mixed neighborhood.

”That’s one of the best things about this place is that our programming is so diverse that we draw all types of artists,” Hesler said of Ambassador Theatre Group, who purchased Kings Theatre around 2017. Their entertainment motto is “a stage for everyone.”

“What sets Kings Theatre apart from others?” Hesler asked. “It is truly our focus on community.”

Throughout the decade since the reopening, Kings Theatre has opened its doors to the community as a way to give back. It has partnered with several groups and churches to have annual school supply giveaways, food giveaways in partnership with local elected officials and an annual Thanksgiving meal. It provides meeting spaces for community groups, serves as a voting site and donates tickets to schools.

In addition, there have been award ceremonies, graduation ceremonies and political events with Elizabeth Warren when she was running for president, Mayor Eric Adams’ inauguration and the State of the City address by then-Mayor Bill DiBlasio in 2018.

From February 2025 to now, the Kings Theatre has hosted a total of 1,377,785 attendees, with 168,360 in 2024. Its average yearly attendance is around 130,000 attendees.

Both 2024 and 2025 marked milestone 10th and 95th anniversaries for the theatre. Sept. 7, 1929 was when the building opened. The tenth anniversary official reopening date was Feb. 3, 2015. “Those were like two huge tentpole anniversaries,” Hesler said. 

To celebrate the 95th anniversary, the Theatre worked with two local Brooklyn-based artists: muralist Spencer Alexander restored the historic mural in the courtyard and Tom Fruin’s “You Will Clap” water tower public art installation is featured in the courtyard. The artworks are on view until March 14.

In all, the celebrations have been exciting and memorable for the thousands of people who have enjoyed the theatre since its reopening.

“I’m never going to retire,” Ross announced towards the end of her performance. The phrase is something she has repeated before according to fans, much to their delight and amazement.