Emery Theatre: Difference between revisions
Cincinnatus2 (talk | contribs) Added 6 new external Links |
Cincinnatus2 (talk | contribs) Added Requiem Project |
||
| Line 149: | Line 149: | ||
In the summer of 2009, the Emery Theater was temporarily opened to host Emery Jam, a fundriaser featuring local bands. |
In the summer of 2009, the Emery Theater was temporarily opened to host Emery Jam, a fundriaser featuring local bands. |
||
== Revival Plan: Arts Venue Managed by The Requiem Project == |
|||
The non-profit Emery Center Corporation is responsible for re-opening the theatre. In September 2009, the ECC began developing a plan to re-open the theatre as an interdisciplinary arts venue managed by the site-specific non-profit, The Requiem Project. Revival of the Emery Theater is now referred to as "The Requiem Project: Emery Theatre." |
|||
Founded in 2008, under the artistic direction of Tina Manchise and Tara Lindsey Gordon, The Requiem Project is a revitalization plan and re-programming of the Emery Theatre as a multi-purpose arts venue for diverse and innovative arts programs at an affordable cost, and as an educational resource center for professional development of artists. In addition to opening the theatre’s 1600 seat auditorium for live performances and films, The Requiem Project’s programming includes fine arts classes in dance, music, and writing, and teacher certifications in the movement arts, such as Pilates and yoga with the focus of increasing employable skills for working artists. |
|||
The renovation of the Emery Theatre intends to open the building in modular phases, with a full-scale renovation that will include gallery space, a sculpture garden, dance studios, music rooms, alternative performance spaces and event rental space. |
|||
The first event to be held at the Emery under The Requiem Project’s artistic direction is the “11.11.11,” a preview of the Emery, and an introduction to the four avenues of the company’s public mission which is the development of an innovative arts destination as a space for creative possibility with the belief that meaningful artistic interactions create community. |
|||
==Notes== |
==Notes== |
||
Revision as of 16:43, 3 March 2011
 | |
 | |
| Address | 1112 Walnut St Cincinnati, Ohio United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | University of Cincinnati |
| Designation | Cincinnati Landmark |
| Type | Performance |
| Capacity | 1,600 |
| Opened | 1911 |
The Emery Theatre, or Emery Auditorium, is a 1,600[1] seat acoustically pure[2] theater located in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. It was originally built in 1911 as the home for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra,[3] who performed there from January 6, 1912 until 1936 when they moved to the larger Music Hall.[1] The quality of acoustics in the hall is legendary,[3] and was compared to that of Carnegie Hall in New York City by the famous conductor Leopold Stokowski.[1][4] The design of the hall is based on the "isacoustic curve" principles that were first proposed by John Scott Russell.[3] It included two balconies and was one of the first concert halls in the United States to have no obstructed seats.[3]
Many world renown performing artists and Broadway stars have appeared at the Emery, including George Gershwin, John Philip Sousa, Bette Davis, Arturo Toscanini, Fritz Reiner, Katherine Cornell, and Russian ballet dancers Nijinsky and Anna Pavlova.[1][5] Gershwin performed Rhapsody in Blue there with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra shortly after premiering it in New York City.[1]
| Venue | Seating[1] |
|---|---|
| Music Hall | 3,400 |
| Aronoff Center | 2,700 |
| Taft Theatre | 2,400 |
| Emery Theatre | 1,600 |
| Corbett Auditorium | 900 |
| Memorial Hall | 610 |
As of December 2008 the Emery Theatre is closed for renovation, but is expected to reopen in 2011 with $3 million in investments.[1] The theatre would be in use 300 days a year and have an estimated $3.5 million annual economic impact on the area.[6]
One often stated reason for restoring the Emery is to fill Cincinnati's lack of a mid-sized venue.[6] Cincinnati has been overlooked in favor of Louisville or Columbus because it lacks a venue that seats between 900 and 1,800 people.[6]
The Cincinnati Opera and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra have both expressed interest in using the theatre, as well as other art groups.[4]
History
The Emery Theatre came under the ownership of the University of Cincinnati in 1969.[1] From 1978 until 1999 the American Theatre Organ Society ran silent and sound films there.
In 1988 $4.5 million was secured for the Emery Theatre by Stanley Aronoff, a Cincinnati politician.[7] However, with the help of Aronoff the University of Cincinnati diverted $3.2 million of the money to a building that houses the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning.[7] University trustees were so grateful for the state money they named the building the Aronoff Center for the Performing Arts.[7] The university then used another $1.4 million of the money to renovate French Hall for University College, with only $400,000 of the original appropriation going to planning for the Emery's restoration.[7]
In 2000 there were plans to raise $17.5 million in order to restore the Emery by 2004.[6] Suggested renovations include an extended two story lobby that stretches to the corner of Walnut and Central Parkway, the removal of a wall to expand the stage house, restoration of the historic friezes and ceiling murals, elevator-accessible balcony, and the conversion of a sixth floor gymnasium into a black box space.[6] However, because of competition with other buildings the Cincinnati Preservation Association was unable to allocate the $5 million needed from state government.[8]
The University of Cincinnati can never sell the Emery due to Mary Emery's "iron-clad will,"[8] so the rest of the building was redeveloped into apartments between 1999 and 2001.[1][8] The complex now contains 59 units of market-rate housing, interior parking, and commercial office and retail space.[1]
In July 2008 a group of over 100 local volunteers from Give Back Cincinnati spent a day cleaning up the dusty theatre.[9] [10] A few months later the 2008 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards were held at the Emery.[11]
The Give Back Cincinnati Volunteer team returned in 2009 to continue restoration of the theater and continued cleaning the balconies, painting the first floor, and completed painting of the backstage area.
In the summer of 2009, the Emery Theater was temporarily opened to host Emery Jam, a fundriaser featuring local bands.
Revival Plan: Arts Venue Managed by The Requiem Project
The non-profit Emery Center Corporation is responsible for re-opening the theatre. In September 2009, the ECC began developing a plan to re-open the theatre as an interdisciplinary arts venue managed by the site-specific non-profit, The Requiem Project. Revival of the Emery Theater is now referred to as "The Requiem Project: Emery Theatre."
Founded in 2008, under the artistic direction of Tina Manchise and Tara Lindsey Gordon, The Requiem Project is a revitalization plan and re-programming of the Emery Theatre as a multi-purpose arts venue for diverse and innovative arts programs at an affordable cost, and as an educational resource center for professional development of artists. In addition to opening the theatre’s 1600 seat auditorium for live performances and films, The Requiem Project’s programming includes fine arts classes in dance, music, and writing, and teacher certifications in the movement arts, such as Pilates and yoga with the focus of increasing employable skills for working artists.
The renovation of the Emery Theatre intends to open the building in modular phases, with a full-scale renovation that will include gallery space, a sculpture garden, dance studios, music rooms, alternative performance spaces and event rental space.
The first event to be held at the Emery under The Requiem Project’s artistic direction is the “11.11.11,” a preview of the Emery, and an introduction to the four avenues of the company’s public mission which is the development of an innovative arts destination as a space for creative possibility with the belief that meaningful artistic interactions create community.
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j
"$3 Million Projected to Reopen the Emery Theatre" (Press release). Emery Center Corporation. October 29, 2008. Retrieved 12/7/2008.
{{cite press release}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Perry Brothers (February 2, 1999). "Emery Theater may regain glint". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
- ^ a b c d
Howes, Robert (1988). "Not a Bad Seat in the House: A Design History of Cincinnati's Emery Theatre". Queen City Heritage. 46 (3): 51–61.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ a b Gelfand, Janelle (August 31, 1999). "Emery fix-up in the wings : Team works to bring 1911 gem into the 21st century". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ Lewin, Naomi (September 5, 2007). "Rehabbed Emery Theatre Offers Sighs Over Size". Cincinnati CityBeat. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ^ a b c d e Demaline, Jackie (February 20, 2000). "Rehabbed Emery would fill gap". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
- ^ a b c d Hawthorne, Michael (March 24, 2000). "Emery vies for state funding". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
- ^ a b c Jacob, Allyson (October 6, 2004). "Emery Center". CityBeat. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
- ^ Give Back Cincinnati, Save the Emery. Retrieved on 2008-12-16
- ^
LeMaster, Kevin (July 29, 2008). "Give Back Cincinnati brings attention to Emery Theatre". Soapbox. Retrieved 2010-8-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Breen, Mike (November 14, 2008). "Events: Cincinnati Entertainment Awards". CityBeat. Retrieved 2008-12-16.