In 2005 the community came together to upgrade and renovate this very special space, creating what is now the largest venue in the Napa Valley with state of the art technical and performance capabilities.

In August 2011, the theater's largest financial donor and key board member, Don Carr, was killed in an auto accident.

The sudden loss of financial and leadership support, on the heels of the fiscal problems posed by the 2008 economic downturn, created a serious threat to the theater's long term viability.

Within a few months, it became clear that the only way to ensure the health and vitality of the theater was to undergo a thorough strategic and financial restructuring process.

Within 11 months, the newly named Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater opened, debt free and with a new board, a stronger community focus, and a diversified donor base.