Thalia Mara Hall’s Mold Issue Requires Repairs, Report Says

Microbial growth in Thalia Mara Hall will require repairs to its ventilation system as well as carpet removal before the Jackson, Miss., municipal auditorium can be used to safely host events again, an air quality report the city released on Aug. 27 says.

The City released the report weeks after its Aug. 1 decision to close the theater indefinitely over scheduled maintenance and microbial growth found throughout the facility.

“As part of the assessment, the industrial hygienist collected air samples for mold spores and conducted real-time air monitoring for temperature and relative humidity. A visual inspection was also conducted in accessible areas of the facility as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the building. Thermal imaging was conducted in areas to determine if moisture was present in building materials,” the report states.

The report, conducted by CTEH, which provides environmental and scientific consulting services for the City, identified Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium molds from samples taken throughout the theater.

“The report recommends the repair of the HVAC system and the removal of some carpeting. It also recommends the cleaning of carpets, hard surfaces, floors and soft upholstery. A final air quality clearance survey is also requested,” the City of Jackson said in an Aug. 27 press release announcing the findings in the report.

Thalia Mara Hall is home to several arts organizations including Ballet Mississippi, Broadway In Jackson and the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.

After the City of Jackson announced they would be closing the theater indefinitely, members of Jackson’s art community lamented to the Mississippi Free Press over the ongoing issues.

“This has been a problem for months now,” long-time concert promoter Arden Barnett, owner of Ardenland, said on Aug. 6. “There have been problems with the building, the HVAC system, the elevators, etc., for quite some time now. There’s a lot of work to do. I don’t see a quick opening,” Barnett continued.

For now, while the City of Jackson pursues funding to continue the upkeep of the theater, shows once slated to open there will premiere at the Mississippi Coliseum.

“We were recently given $1.5 million in needed funding by the state to help do this,” the Aug. 27 City of Jackson press release stated. “But this is an ongoing effort. In the meantime, major events at Thalia have been moved to a separate venue, the Mississippi Coliseum. “This has preserved the ability of patrons to attend these shows as well as the economic impact to the city.”

Barnett said that having to postpone and relocate shows because of the condition of the theater had left him disappointed and frustrated. “It’s sad that our theater is in the state that it’s in.”

City officials were set to have a third meeting with the remediation specialists on Aug. 27.

“We will reopen Thalia when these concerns are alleviated. We do not currently have a timeframe for repairs but will advise the public when we do. The city thanks the public for its patience and understanding during this temporary hiatus,” the press release said.

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