A few days later, an arsonist set fire to Lambert Hall, having poured flammables onto the piano and the backstage storage.
[1] Opera in the Heights held its next performance, a Gala II Concert, on May 11, 1996, in Lambert Hall, with a curtain hanging over fire damaged wall.
[1] By fall of 2004, Lambert Hall was renewed and beautified with new floor surfaces, a rebuilt air conditioner, new seats – and restoring the beautiful stained glass windows.
In December 2005 UpStage Theatre produced its first show at Lambert Hall with the original holiday musical, Santa's Magic Timepiece.
UpStage, founded in 2000, launched a full season of Evening and Young Audience Series productions in 2006 and adopted Lambert Hall as its new home.