Richmond CenterStage

[TBurban]

Courtesy of Burt:

CenterStage Update 07/21/09

View of auditorium, highlighting decorative lighting.

The orchestra shell is being hand-painted on site.

[TBurban]

This week's update, courtesy of Burt:

7/28/08

Items undergoing installation include:

New marquee facade replicating original ornamentation.

Original organ pipes returning from off-site storage.

Audio racks.

[TBurban]

Courtesy of Burt:

CenterStage update 8/4/09

Progress view of the new Donor Lounge bar area at the mezzanine level of the Carpenter Theatre.

Progress view of the new Rhythm Hall at the 1st Floor of Dorothy Pauley Square.

[burt]

Tommy, many thanks for transposing the RCS update photos to larger size than they appear on the website.

Only 37 days to go before opening on Sept, 12th.

[burt]

The latest August 12th update 31 days prior to opening will be posted soon by TBurban.

Sound reflectors in the shape of clouds can be raised or lowered from the starlit ceiling in front of the proscenium arch.

I suspect they will start "tuning" the house soon.

Keep an eye out for the picture which may be slightly delayed because Tommy (TBurban) is vacationing. It's an interesting photograph.

[TBurban]

Here we go:

Hey Burt, are you anywhere near Midtown East? I spent the last couple nights at my cousin's place off 51st. We'll have to meet up next time, I didn't think I was going to be in the city that long otherwise I would've given you a buzz! Spending most of my time out on Lon' Gisland Back tomorrow

[burt]

Thanks for posting the update so promptly, Tommy.

I'm midtown west.

The cloud sound reflectors, it should be noted, are in an unfinished state.

Only 31 days to go before the unveiling.

Opening night tickets at 8PM on Saturday, September 12th are still available. Free tours of the entire facility will be open to the public from 1PM to 5PM on Sunday, September 13th.

[burt]

It would be a fun idea at performances to raise or lower the cloud sound reflectors like they do with the chandelier in The Metropolitan Opera House.

But, I suppose they have to be preset.

[burt]

TBurban has yesterday's construction update and will post it soon.

[TBurban]

Images and descriptions courtesy of Burt:

Centerstage Update for 8/18/09

The sunscreen is being installed at the upper facade of Dorothy Pauley Square.

Progress view of the 6th Street Arcade, looking toward Broad Street. (Box office is on the right.)

Sorry for the delay..classes start tomorrow!

[burt]

Images and descriptions courtesy of Burt:

Centerstage Update for 8/18/09

The sunscreen is being installed at the upper facade of Dorothy Pauley Square.

Progress view of the 6th Street Arcade, looking toward Broad Street. (Box office is on the right.)

Sorry for the delay..classes start tomorrow!

Does anyone besides me remember when Dorthy Pauley Square was the newest section of Thalhimer's Department Store which connected to the original buildings that swept along 7th, Broad and 6th Streets? The men's department was on the first floor of what is now Pauley Square. Prior to the erection of this building there was a paved lot that was called "The Parking Lot Canteen", a USO outpost for the military during World War II, where big bands played for dancing. Before that, there was a five-story YMCA on this corner at 7th and Grace.

[burt]

Coincidental with naming Don Harrison as arts and culture editor, today's Style Weekly presents an interesting video of work progress at RCS taped almost four months ago. It is hosted by lead architect Bruce Herrmann of Wilson Butler Architects.

http://styleweekly.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmo...0CF33069AEE1AE0

[burt]

16 days 'til Grand Opening of Richmond Center Stage on September 12th.

TBurban has yesterday's Construction Update and will post it soon. I suspect there will be only two more updates prior to opening.

Brian Reagan (spelling?) is booked into the Carpenter Theatre on November 22nd. I believe he is a prominent comedian.

[wrldcoupe4]

Brian Regan! Awesome. I'm there.

[TBurban]

Brian Regan is awesome!! We need Jim Gaffigan to come back and perform at the Carpenter!!

Here are today's updates, courtesy of Burt:

CenterStage Richmond update 8/25/09:

In the Carpenter Theatre, renovation / restoration of Orchestra Seating and Lobby nears completion.

[burt]

Thanks for posting the August 25th construction update, TBurban. I think there will be two more before September 12th opening date.

In addition to Brian Regan on November 22nd, there are two other concert bookings I've heard of at The Carpenter Theatre:

September 18th: Musiq Soulchild and Ledisi.

and:

September 19th: The Oak Ridge Boys.

David Copperfield and his magic show comes in for a one-nighter sometime in the fall.

And the somewhat risque Broadway puppet show, AVENUE Q, is also on the fall schedule.

And, of course, The Richmond Symphony, Richmond Ballet and The Virginia Opera are all schelduled for concerts and performances throughout the year.

[burt]

With Grand Opening less than two weeks off, The Times Dispatch has done a nice story on the Richmond CenterStage complex.

The video has been posted earlier, but the slideshow of The Carpenter Theatre accompanying the text is up-to-date and excellent.

Fom today's RT-D:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/entertai...-182010/288447/

[TBurban]

Last of the Richmond CenterStage updates, courtesy of Burt:

9/1/09

The symphony has started sound checks of the auditorium.

View inside the Carpenter Theatre Lobby expansion to Grace Street.

[burt]

Here is Melissa Ruggieri's story from today's RT-D about the upcoming season at Richmond CenterStage:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/entertai...-190006/290029/

[burt]

Here is what the marquee looked like a few years ago before renovations began at The Carpenter Theatre.

Aside from that interesting comparison, Jim Brickman's name will appear on the new digital marquee when he returns for a performance on New Year's Eve to

welcome in 2010.

This photograph from Miklos Pogonyi's collection:

http://picasaweb.google.com/miklospogonyi/...018009669833026

I'm hoping Cadeho will move his latest exterior pix of the performing arts center to this site.

And thanks to our Moderator, Krazeeboi, for removing the "Under Construction" words to the title of this thread.

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Opening night tickets are still available. I'm scratching my head over the failure of the Foundation to book a name entertainer in addition to showing off the resident companies on September 12th. Tony Bennett opened the renovated Paramount Theatre in Charlottesville a couple of years ago and quickly sold out the venue.

[TBurban]

Thanks for the name change, krazeeboi!

[Cadeho]

From August 30 and 31.

[burt]

Thanks, Cadeho (a/k/a Cam), for bringing over the August exteriors of RCS. They are a real contrast to the link I posted just above showing Miklos Porgonyi's photo of the old marquee and immediate surroundings before work began on reconstruction.

[Cadeho]

You're welcome.

[burt]

Remember! There is a free open-house on Sunday, September 13th between one and five PM. You will be able to tour the entire facility -- Carpenter Theatre and Dorothy Pauley Square.