PHOTO CREDIT HERE TK JUNE 2019 JUNE The 111-year-old Philadelphia Met- ropolitan Opera House reopened last year after a $56 renovation.million

42 COMMUNITY COMMUNITY

PHOTO CREDIT HERE TK BY NOELLE RILEY TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, CITIES REVITALIZED THEATERS PROVIDE A BOOST ASSETS JUNE 2019 43 43 PREVIOUS PAGES: COURTESY LIVE NATION; COURTESY PEOPLES BANK THEATRE - Peoples Bank Bank Peoples Theatre in Marietta, Ohio, celebrated its anniversa 100th ry in May. - - In 2012, the church and Eric developer Blumenfeld bought Bob Dylan headlined the ¦rst show in December. The the have “We ability arena-size do to said Wal- shows,” “That was a very exciting booking no us. for There’s alsoThe venue has a huge chandelier that rises the to wanted“We something do to that We factor. had a wow The venue willThe venue host roughly with shows a year, 150 Log- a huge success in“It’s terms of putting that theater back CONTINUED ON PAGE 46 PAGE ON CONTINUED the building, hoping Live rehabilitate one to day it. In 2017, Nation concert signed promoter and on as the plans venue’s announcedwere the redevelop to into site a concert venue. 3,400-seat has bars, venue 25 modern technology and lighting, and a huge stage performances. for McDonald,ter chief programmer The at Met. The back- stage has enough room in load to up eight to concert trucks mega performersfor like Madonna, who just announced three shows in December the at venue. shortage of production with elements McDon- Madonna,” ald said. ceiling when shows start. wanted put to some great lighting Gordon said, in,” highlight ing the massive literally chandelier. “It blocks your sight lines when people come in. As soon as the lights down, go the chan goes,delier up, up, up the to ceiling. unbelievable.” It’s ic, Ray LaMontagne, Kacey Musgraves and more playing in the next several months. saidon line,” Ješ Greene, chairman and founder of Ever- Greene Architectural Arts, an architectural ¦rm that ren- - An outsized example of economic growth around a revamped historic theater is The Met Philly, a 110,000-square-foot structure that    walking into an ornately decorated historic theater has drawn communities the save to structures, old and cities across the nation are watching now new arounddevelopment theaters grow and neigh- borhoods ourish.

Throughout the decades, the opera house was used as a The original structure opened in 1908 as the Phila- “I have to keep pinching keep to have “I great how is,” myself, that’s it The Philly Met opened as a massive concert in venue The once blighted building is called now the crown jewel movie a sports theater, a school, venue, a gospel concert hall and a church. closed It from 1988 1995 to until the Church of the Ghost Holy started holding services inside the auditori delphia Metropolitan Opera House by developed opera impresario Oscar Hammerstein. um and spent thousands of dollars trying in it keep to shape. said Geoš Gordon, regional Live at Nation president Enter- tainment, who operates some- The Philly. Met “There’s thing special about being in a building that was built over years100 ago.” December and continues audiences wow to and musicians alike with its grand plush facade, seats and balcony. double of Philadelphia’s Northof Philadelphia’s Broad Street, an area going that’s through a renaissance with new hotels, residential and mixed-use sprouting development up. was from saved despair with a $56 million restoration. T

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COURTESY CAPITOL THEATRE Clearwater, Fla.’s Capitol Theatre had a $10.7 mil- lion renovation in 2013. - — JERRY MICKELSON — JERRY Much likeMuch Uptown Theatre, Peoples Bank Theatre in The mayor’s supportThe mayor’s Mickelson easier it made for get to The 44,000-square-foot building has a spacious lobby with lounges. will It about have 4,400 seats re- when it opens, and Mickelson has every intention of preserving as many of the historic aspects of the building that they can. Marietta, Ohio, was closed more than for three decades, reopening in 2016. Built in the 1919, historic theater cele- is poised turn to the blighted community around, Mick- not justelson said. about bringing “It’s concerts the to Uptown about doing Theatre, good but things it’s our for community. was It (Chicago) Rahm Mayor Emanuel who realized that Uptown Theatre needed be to reopened in revitalize to order the Uptown neighborhood.” all the permits needed start to the renovation process. Mick elson predicts they’ll raise the remaining $40 million by the of theend year and start renovations immediately after and that the theater will open roughly two years after that. “It’s not just about bringing “It’s about concerts. … It’s our doing good things for community.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 48 PAGE ON CONTINUED - - JUNE 2019 JUNE Just like The Philly, Met the revamped Uptown Theatre Likewise, The Philly Met gives area to back schools and “The other really mission looking that we’re forward to The ¦rst half of funding was provided by grants, city “We’re teed up and as go to ready far as all“We’re of the city ap- The venue hasThe venue been closed since 1981, so its opening is a Another theater being that’s is saved the Uptown Theatre At one point, The Philly Met was almost in complete dis- has donated $23,000 date to schools to in the area. is this theater will create a huge social impact,” said. he assembling a program“We’re with Chicago Public Schools Afterfor School Matters. Kids will learn about the front of the house and of the back house productions.” funds and historic tax credits. Mickelson is also looking to design a nonpro¦t component that might purchase or run the theater. provals that needed, we which is a big task that tackled we in a short amount out now raising said. of time,” he “We’re the ¦nal $40 million.” big deal the for Uptown neighborhood, said. he tions, announced an $80 million renovation the to property. Half the money has been raised Mickelson so far, said. in Jerry owner, Chicago. Late Mickel last the year, venue’s repair, Greene said. “They tarp had a blue stretched over the orchestra catch to the pieces of ceiling that falling were down. If walked you upstairs, literally were you walking in rubble that was falling oš the ceiling.” son, who is also co-owner of Chicago-based Jam Produc ovates, preserves, rebuilds and restores buildings. old Last Greene andyear, his team on 24 worked historic theaters. 46 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44 PAGE FROM CONTINUED Four Venues | 600+ Shows

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SanJoseTheaters.org COURTESY JAM PRODUCTIONS “It was“It the catalyst developing for downtown Clearwa- The Capitol Theatre opened in 1921. mil- had It a $10.7 the announced venue On million 17, May a $2.5 gift from “People want to live near these (theaters) and what that’s has seen economic growth surrounding its facility. said Katie Pedretty,ter,” director of public relations the for ownedtheater, by the city and managed by Ruth Eckerd Hall. people have “We come see shows from here all over a very walking intimate It’s atmosphere. Bay. Tampa You’re into a theater that looks vintage, classic, feels it looks it like walkingyou’re into another era.” lion renovation during in 2013 which two build- adjacent ingsconnected were the to Theytheater. also expanded the seats 725, to upgraded lights and technology and created a larger and lobby VIP lounge. Nancy and David Bilheimer arts for education program- ming children. for In return, the city renamed the theater Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre. makes these cities unique,” Green said. “Theaters are the largest secular gathering places. People come together of all religions, classes races. The theater is a great equalizer, where the rich man and the poor man, all they’re going to beingsee put what’s on on this stage. Communities are recognizing that culture and the arts are a huge magnet for the quality of life.” The theater “has the to added momentum of downtown Many who live in Marietta remember seeing their ¦rst not only presenting we’re major shows and“Today Greene applauds ešorts and save to reopen venues. “There are less and Greene less said. of them restore,” to The Capitol Theatre in downtown Clearwater, Fla., also CONTINUED FROM PAGE 46 PAGE FROM CONTINUED brated its 100-year anniversary in May. revitalizationMarietta’s ešorts growth and the area’s as a tourism destination history for and outdoor recreation en- thusiasts,” marketing the theater’s director, Drew Tanner, said in an email. movie in the and theater, country music like legends Kitty or RandyWells, Ernest in back he Travis the Tubb day, said. concerts, really functioning but it’s as a community space, hosting dance and youth orchestra recitals, bene¦t our for events local foster families foundation and Ronald McDonald House, as the Marietta for venue College’s performing arts programs,” said. Tanner The theater has around each year events 100 and has outreach programs localfor schoolchildren. “But many communities recognized have that if they have a historic they theater, an have asset they need restore.” to JUNE 2019 JUNE 48 Half of the$80 million needed to renovate Chi- cago’s Uptown Theatre (shown ina rendering) has been raised. How did you get your start in the business? Do you make money on historic theaters? Q&A I stated in Caracas, Venezuela, working for Not much. We don’t make money on any of Hoffend and Sons. In the late ’70s and ’80s the historic theater jobs we do. But we feel we were it when it came to theater rigging like we are serving the community. We actual- and staging. I opened opera houses in ly donate a lot of the work to the community MARK BLACK Europe and Argentina. But I wasn’t one of the theaters we do, like the DeLand, Fla., theater, sons, so it was time for me to try something where we donated the main curtain and box PRESIDENT, INTERAMERICA new. curtains. It makes us feel a part of something. STAGE INC. When did IAStage take off? Who brings IAStage in? MARK BLACK IS the president and founder We were discovered by Disney and they Often we are brought in by the theaters. They of InterAmerica Stage Inc., a specialty rig- turned out to be a very good client who are say, “Hey, do you think this is safe?” We are ging and stage machinery company, which very interesting — they are very much like a known as overhead safety contractors and rig- opened its doors in 1989. theater-world client. We’ve kept a great rela- gers, and our opinions matters. They engage The company has worked on a raft of the- tionship with them for 27 years. Anything you us to do an inspection, and they need an issue aters in Florida, many of them historic theaters, walk underneath in a Disney park, worldwide, œixed. Community theater is great and œilled including the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, that’s cool is probably ours. with volunteers who may not have a good eye Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce, Falk Theatre for dangerous situations and rigging. at the University of Tampa, Colony Theatre in You are known for your skydecks, a ten- We also have our own sewing shop, so we Miami Beach, Polk Theatre in Lakeland, Actors sion wire grid. Where are these installa- do high-end draperies. For a lot of these old- Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Ga- tions located? er venues, that’s really important. If the look bles, Olympia Theater in Miami; Athens Theatre We’ve got hundreds of installations like the of the drape is ratty and weird, it’s a turnoff. in DeLand; The Coliseum in St. Petersburg; and new Chase Arena in San Francisco. Little the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota. Caesars Arena in Detroit has the largest Why do you do this work if it’s not proœit- Other projects have included Northern skydeck in the world. able? Stage in White River Junction, Vt., and The Probably 80 percent of our ožice staff and Forum in Inglewood, California. Why do like to work on historic theaters? project managers are all grads of theater pro- Black talked with Brad Weissberg of Venues- We like to work in them because it’s a different grams in the U.S. We have a lot of people who Now about how he got into the business and level, more intimate, more community-minded, like theater. The other part is that if you don’t how his company works on historic theaters as and there’s a theater vibe and you are actually want anyone in the industry to come in and well as some of the country’s newest arenas. helping out the people who love theater. steal your business, you better be available.

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