It’s been more than six months since Thalia Mara Hall shut its doors in downtown Jackson due to the presence of mold and the facility’s reopening has been delayed, despite previous optimism that the venue would be up and running by now.
Thalia Mara Hall closed in August after the city’s indoor air quality assessment confirmed that microbial activity was present likely due to a faulty heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and roof leaks. Human waste was also found in the balcony area. Among other troubling discoveries were an outdated fire curtain riddled with asbestos and a major pipe in need of repair.
In late January, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba boasted of remediation efforts to bring the historic facility up to speed, with a stamp of approval by the State Fire Marshal’s Office being the final piece of the puzzle to begin the process of bringing concerts and shows back to Thalia Mara.
Consequently, State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney’s team reported that it would not be safe to reopen the venue, noting several of the problems that existed within the concert hall remain, further delaying a grand reopening. The primary objective, according to Chaney, is ensuring the indoor fire suppression system is up to code.
“We spoke to the State Fire Marshal last week. The city is in the process of completing what are fairly minor cleanups that had been scheduled but not yet completed that are necessary to get into full fire code compliance,” City Attorney Drew Martin said on Tuesday.
“The major issues that remain are that there has to be hydrostatic testing done on the fire sprinkler and alarm system. That’s a test that’s done together to make sure that when there’s an alarm, the sprinklers turn on and the fire is put out. That’s being scheduled.”
As things stand, the fire curtain has yet to be replaced, but a new one is currently being custom-made for the venue. Though there is no specific expected time of arrival for the new curtain, city leaders could find a workaround for Thalia Mara to host entertainment acts without it.
“Thalia Mara can open and have events as long as there is a fire suppression company on site,” Martin said. “We may even be able to do that with our fire department. We’re trying to clear that to find out. If not, we’ll contract with somebody.”
Currently, the only show scheduled to be held at Thalia Mara Hall this year is the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine’s performance of “The Sleeping Beauty” on March 14, though tickets are not currently available. No official announcement has been made on plans to bring more shows to the theater or when it is expected to reopen.
