10/10/2001 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Propo.sal for Theater to be created from Library Building on Butternut Ridge: r'The building can be divided into four main areas - the Children's car be a nice little art gallery; or a place for a.small band or }f`isinging group. The pillars which hold up the dropped ceiling -(and, I 'believe, the heating and cooling mechanisms,) are very large in this room (3'x2',) and are right in the center or the room. A sta.ge would have to be in a corner, and no ba'ck stage space is available. The meeting room.is fine as is, and I believe a request was made that such a room be available. . The bathrooms, hall and office spaces would be used as they are now. That leaves the main section of the building to be converted into a theater,space - SEE DRAWING. The ceiling is at two levels - The lower level is approximately 8' high. The outside nor.th and west walls ceiling height is approximately 10'. and this height extends into the main room for approximately 16' . The four pillars supporting,the dropped ceiling in this area are approx. 21x2'. ' For the audience to see the performance, the stage must be elevated, since there is no sufficient headroom to rake the floor for the seats. Also, seats must be arranged for proper sight lines around the pillars. I have no idea how difficult or expensive moving the pillar.s would be, but I suspect the cost would be prohibitive. The area that extends to the south wall makes an excellent dressing room and properties room. It does need one thing - a door into the meeting room to permit actors to reach the bathrooms . This area could also be a rehearsal room - especially nice For childr2n's productions. I strongly urge that the stage and seats be free standing. • Rostrums can make any space theatrical, and can create a proscenium. The room would also accommodate a nice cabaret style production, or, with a widened stage and seating all the way back to the main -corridor, a large scale musical. Curtains can make.an intimate theater or, when drawn, a big open space, ala the Ohio Theater. I think it woula be tiTise to plan.spaces for things that make money for theaters: e.g. concessions, wine and cheese - or dessert and coffee productions, dinner theater, gift shop, restivals, Haunted House (in October it will bring in $°28,000 or more and it is a theatrical production, believe me!) A recurring specialty in performances that draw people from outside North Olmsted make money. I pick Shakespeare because it always has an audience and I know how to do it, but Gilbert and Sullivan or Chekhov, or Ibsen always bring a steady flow of supporters as well. We've had busloads of students from Erie College, and Toledo State to _ see our Shakespeare plays. _ I do hope this comes to pass. Lawrence Olivier said ,"I believe in theater - it is the first' first glamorizer of thought, and the highest expression of civilization." Respectfully submitted, Beverle E. Martindale President, Dover Players. (440) 779-1284