Missouri Theatre returns, renovated and ready for drama
June 4, 2008
A 56-foot-long overhanging sculpture greets visitors in the lobby of the recently re-opened Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts on Monday. The artwork is dedicated to and bears the lists the names of hundreds of contributors who donated money to the restoration of the theater.
A large chandelier hangs in the auditorium of the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts on Monday. The restoration of the building, built in 1928, took 10 months to complete.
Ornately decorated private boxes line the interior of the restored Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts on Monday. Grand re-opening celebrations for the theatre included a performance by Tony Bennett and a 1920s-style circus.
After almost a full year of construction and renovation, the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts is back in business. Located at the intersection of Ninth Street and Locust, it’s at the very heart of downtown Columbia.
Since its opening on Oct. 5, 1938, the Missouri Theatre has established itself as one of Columbia’s sources of entertainment. Those were the days of 35-cent admission prices, thick red carpets and evenings of the Radio City Rockettes’ dazzling footwork on stage. Since then, the Missouri Theatre has undergone many changes.
In 1953, it switched ownership and ran smoothly until the development of multi-screened theatres proved too much for the old-style operation and it was sold to the Missouri Symphony Society in 1988.
Over the years, the Theatre’s outdated equipment was brought to attention. Limited backstage gear greatly restricted the kinds of performances the Theatre could house.
This, combined with outdated sound and light board systems, dysfunctional heating and cooling devices and 40-year-old seating prompted the 10-month renovation that lead even Hollywood stars such as Tony Bennett to celebrate with a performance at the Missouri Theatre Wednesday night.
“Having another place where I can see theatre or an independent movie so close to campus is what makes Columbia so great,” junior political science major Todd Walk said in an e-mail.
The reopening ceremony began at 6:30 p.m. with a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by Missouri Theatre executive director David White. Bennett’s performance ended at about 9 p.m.
Home to two of Columbia’s “leading arts organizations” (the Columbia Art League and the Missouri Symphony Society), the venue is committed to “providing an artistic home base for the visual and performing arts,” facilitating an artistic education for all members of the Columbia community and maintaining a “cultural heritage” through the historical structure of the building, according to its Web site.
While the Columbia Art League will provide classes in sculpting, painting and other fine arts at the Missouri Theatre, the Missouri Symphony Society will facilitate theatrical classes through five different programs — MOSS Youth Orchestra, MOSS Children’s Choir, Plowman Chamber Music Competition, Mary Nell Porter Premiere Series and Missouri Technical Theatre Institute for Columbia and mid-Missouri’s budding artists, actors, and musicians.
After trouble finding venues for the annual True/False Film Festival showings around town, Columbia will again be able to rely on the Theatre as a venue for the festival.
Along with this major event, the theatre houses the “Blind” Boone Ragtime Festival and the Mozart-Higday Music Trust series, as well as a venue for major local arts organizations such as the University of Missouri’s Show-Me Opera Company, Ragtag Cinema’s Missouri Theatre Film Series and the Columbia Chorale.
After nearly 70 years, the greatest problem in the renovation of the Theatre was the issue of keeping the venue’s historical appearance. The inside auditorium was completely revamped with new, state-of-the-art lighting, sound and scenic design, all the while maintaining a historically accurate façade on the interior and outside.
In addition, the Columbia Art League needed a new, larger gallery for their exhibition, as well as a renovated retail space. Combined with a new, expanded grand foyer, ADA elevator services, a new lounge, roof-top reception area and extended restroom facilities, the Theatre is sure to be ready for Columbia’s growing community.
Expanded artist dressing rooms and new administrative offices are also new attributes to the venue. The renovation was completed by Architects Alliance, whose goal was to make as many changes to the Theatre while still preserving its historical design.
From the “Blind” Boone Ragtime Festival in early June to the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players’ Pirates of Penzance June 28 and 29 to Simply Sinatra on July 26, this theatre is sure to keep the community entertained while most students are away for the summer.
“I believe that the Missouri Theatre has always contributed to the vibrancy of the downtown area,” Director of Public Relations and Marketing Kanani May said in an e-mail. “And today with the expansion not only is it a cornerstone for Columbia, but it also brings together so many of our artists and art organizations. We really feel like we’re bringing the community together.”
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