Meyer Sound Delivers Dual Cinema And Concert Systems For San Francisco’s Castro Theatre

For more than a century, The Castro Theatre has stood as one of San Francisco’s most recognizable movie palaces and a cultural landmark in the city’s Castro District. Following a two-year, $41 million renovation, the venue reopened this February with modernized facilities and new technical infrastructure designed to support live music programming—bringing a new level of capability to a room that previously operated primarily as a cinema.

As part of the upgrade, Meyer Sound provided two audio systems—an ASTRYA™-based cinema presentation system and a LEOPARD® system for live performances—designed to support rapid format changeovers between cinema and concert modes within in a protected historic interior.

Another Planet Entertainment—known for stewarding and programming several Bay Area venues—operates The Castro and led the renovation to support live music events alongside film presentations. “The Castro now features a 7.1 surround system with Meyer Sound cinema loudspeakers, the world’s largest digital symphonic organ, and a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound concert P.A. system,” says Another Planet Entertainment Senior Vice President Mary Conde.

The Shalleck Collaborative served as theater & AV consultant, collaborating with CAW Architects for facility modernization, Page & Turnbull Architects for historic preservation, and acoustics firm Salter to design and integrate interior treatment for modern production systems within a restored historic setting.

A central component of the renovation was the introduction of a custom convertible seating system. In cinema mode, a platform system deploys to create raked seating, with upholstered chairs set in place to replicate a traditional movie theater experience.

For live events, those platforms retract into themselves and the chairs are removed entirely, transforming the room into a tiered, open-floor configuration. The changeover, which takes approximately four hours, is supported by newly constructed backstage storage levels and a dedicated material lift designed specifically to house and transport the seating inventory.

Every design decision balanced two priorities: operational flexibility and respect for the theater’s historic architecture. For example, “the old fixed screen had hidden the original proscenium for decades,” explains Shalleck Principal Ian Hunter. “Now, the new roll-up screen reveals that beautifully gilded original stage, and we’re adding an LED wall where the original 1920s cinema screen would have been, to support live acts.” While Atmos presentation was considered, Hunter notes that preserving the theater’s ornate ceiling made height speakers impractical, leading designers to stick with a 7.1-channel surround system.

UltraSound provided and deployed the Meyer Sound systems. “In addition to supplying the Meyer Sound systems, we installed the performance system and commissioned both the cinema and performance systems,” explains Josh Osmond, UltraSound’s Director of Operations. “UltraSound will also serve as audio manager for the venue—staffing and operating the system for all performances.”

The new cinema system centers around three ASTRYA-140™ screen channel loudspeakers and 30 ULTRA-X20™ compact point source loudspeakers as surrounds, supported by two 2100-LFC™ low-frequency control elements and processed by a Galileo® GALAXY 408 Network Platform.

The live performance system is anchored by 12 flown LEOPARD compact linear line array loudspeakers and ten 900-LFC™ low-frequency control elements per side, five ULTRA‑X40™ compact point source loudspeakers as fills, six ULTRA‑X20 compact point source loudspeakers as front fills, and three ULTRA‑X40 balcony delays, all processed by two Galileo GALAXY 816 Network Platforms.

“Because stage space is at a premium, the cinema speakers need to be removed and stowed for any performance other than cinema,” says Osmond. “UltraSound designed and fabricated custom cages that ASTRYA cinema speakers mount in. The cages have pick points for rigging and wheel carts when being stowed. This allows for a smooth changeover. We can go from cinema to performance system within a 30-minute period.”

The renovation also included a major upgrade to the theater’s organ, preserving a beloved Castro tradition. “We're using the Meyer Sound surround speakers as part of the new organ system,” Hunter explains of the $1 million digital instrument. “With a new lift and slip stage, the venue can feature organ performances without slowing down changeovers between cinema and live events. The stage opens, the lift comes up with the organ on it, and then the stage closes back over everything, all in the course of about one minute.”

Coda Technologies served as the installing AV contractor, finalizing design and implementing permanent infrastructure. To ensure the theater can adapt to future needs, Coda allowed for extensive connectivity. “We’ve got fiber, copper, and video, and ClearCom connection plates everywhere,” says Coda’s President, Mark Latimer. “They can, depending on the need, get signal to and from wherever it’s needed.” Installation logistics were shaped by the constraints of a historic building that limited cable routing options. “Some cable pulls took a crew of four an entire day to do one pull,” says Latimer. For cinema accessibility, Coda integrated assistive features including Dolby closed captioning and audio narration for the visually impaired.

The real test came when the venue reopened to the public on February 6. “When the organ rose from the stage on opening night, it was quite moving,” says Latimer. “David Hegarty, the organist who has been at The Castro since 1978, came out in a red suit, with this huge new organ. And the whole place just erupted. It was a magical moment.”

Sam Smith's 20-night "To Be Free: San Francisco" residency, which began February 10, served as the first high-profile test of the new system. The theater has since anchored the 69th San Francisco Film Festival, hosting opening night screenings on April 24 and a special closing night screening of Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back in collaboration with Lucasfilm and Another Planet Entertainment on May 4.

Together, audio and infrastructure upgrades position The Castro for a new era of programming while preserving its architectural identity. “Thanks to Meyer Sound's support, the newly reopened Castro Theatre is a triumph of superior audio design and implementation,” says Conde. “Their dedication and professionalism has ensured the Castro's legacy for another 100 years.”
About The Castro Theatre
The Castro Theatre is a world renowned iconic venue and cherished landmark. Located in the Castro Neighborhood, San Francisco’s LGTBQ+ cultural epicenter, this designated historic landmark is the heart of the community. The Castro’s captivating interior was designed by one of San Francisco's most prominent architects, Timothy Pfleuger.  Built in 1922, the movie palace features a lavish yet intimate interior with diverse architectural influences ranging between Spanish, Asian, Italian and Art Deco.  A century later in 2022, Another Planet Entertainment entered into an exclusive partnership with the theatre to execute a significant $41 million rehabilitation of the building. This includes major renovations to accommodate a wider variety of entertainment; opening the venue for the first time to standing room musical performances while still maintaining the seated experience for cinema, comedy and more.

The re-opening will showcase the revitalization of the ceiling’s stunning original artwork along with the sgraffito murals and a long hidden historic proscenium, all masterfully restored by Evergreene Architectural Arts. Additionally, BuildIT, the world’s first LGBTQ construction advocacy organization, has played a major role providing specialized trade professionals to the project. Other key elements include modernizing the historic chandelier, revival of the iconic neon blade sign and marquee, and the installation of the world's largest and most versatile digital organ. The building will feature modern amenities with a new HVAC system, additional restrooms, and for the first time a fully ADA accessible orchestra, stage and dressing rooms. Another Planet’s momentous effort will ensure this cultural gem will continue to serve as an inclusive global beacon for cultural expression to be enjoyed for generations to come.

About Another Planet Entertainment
Established in 2003, Another Planet Entertainment (APE) is the largest independent promoter in the U.S. and has produced and promoted thousands of events with artists as diverse as Radiohead, Neil Young, Kendrick Lamar, Adele, Daft Punk, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Lizzo, Metallica, Bruno Mars, twenty one pilots, Bruce Springsteen, Mumford & Sons, Zedd, Paul McCartney, Fred again.. x Skrillex, Florence + The Machine and Olivia Rodrigo. Named Top Independent Promoter (U.S.) by Billboard Magazine in 2015 and 2016 and Top Independent Promoter (Worldwide) in 2017, APE is the exclusive promoter for the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, the Fox Theater in Oakland, the historic Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, The Independent and The Castro in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic, as well as co-promoter of The Bellwether in Los Angeles. In April 2025, APE welcomed Channel 24, a new property in Sacramento to its portfolio. In addition, APE produces the award-winning festival Outside Lands (since 2008, ranked #4 on Billboard’s Top 50 Festivals of 2022) in San Francisco. In 2024, APE launched Golden Gate Park Concerts, an unprecedented standalone event series on the Polo Field in the iconic San Francisco park. The inaugural event with System Of A Down marked the first ever headline concert in the park after dark, preceded only by daytime events. APE also operates an artist management arm, Another Planet Entertainment Management, with a roster that includes two-time GRAMMY-nominated artist Tycho, and a private events division Another Planet Event Group.

About Meyer Sound
Founded in 1979 by John and Helen Meyer, Meyer Sound is the global leader and innovator in self-powered loudspeaker systems and active acoustics. Headquartered in Berkeley, California, with operations globally, the company is driven by a singular mission: to create the best sonic experiences in the world. With more than 100 patents and a legacy of breakthrough technologies—including the first dedicated loudspeaker processors and large-scale self-powered arrays—Meyer Sound combines scientific innovation with precision craftsmanship. Its premium systems power the world’s most iconic concert tours and festivals, theatrical productions, cinemas, houses of worship, educational institutions, and more. The company champions sustainable manufacturing and invests in the future of sound through education and global partnerships.

Photo Credit: Joshua Withers

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