In spite of, or perhaps because of this, a thriving arts community has taken hold near the historic Warner Grand Theater.

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The Grand Theater, with 12 screens and stadium seating, had been the centerpiece of an effort to revitalize the mall in this eastern district of the city.

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The sun had not yet come up over New Orleans East when a convoy of a dozen cars pulled into the parking lot of the Grand Theater in Lake Forest Plaza Mall.

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"Even though it's a different place, it's still the same, it's still the grand old theater, " Wallace said.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The appeals judges did throw out one part of Marshall's conviction, a grand larceny count involving work he had his mother's social secretary do for a theater production company he was running.

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With this in mind, the owners decided to hold the two-week grand opening to cover the full gamut of musical styles that fully encapsulates the diversity of the theater.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS