Photos of the new Stageworks Theatre - How it all began!
A Tour of the Construction Site of Stagework' New Theatre!
By Kendra Mahon
Nestled on the ground floor of a modern condominium in the beautiful Channel District of Tampa Bay, Stageworks is building a new theater. Complete with a state of the art control room, overhead catwalk, local art displays and a seating capacity of 99, this theater will help create a active urban scene in one of Tampa' newest downtown neighborhoods.
The theater, 65% complete, is a structure made up of concrete and steel. However, after taking a tour and talking with several passionate individuals, it's easy to imagine this space springing to life.
I enter through double doors and walk down a corridor that leads me to what will be an art-filled lobby. I'm told by volunteer Bernice Jensen that this will be a place where local artists can have their art displayed. A bar will be located in one corner and for the space opposite, a grand piano has been donated. I can already feel the artistic vibe seeping through the concrete foundation.
Bernice proceeds to lead me through the lobby and up the stairs. We reach the control room overlooking the entire stage area and I'm in awe of how much space there is. Even though I'm sure Bernice has given about seven or eight of these tours before mine, she is still genuinely moved by the view from up here. "In twenty years, I'll look out over a play from up here and remember when it was all just dirt and concrete. It gives me chills," she says, smiling.
She then shows me a large hall on the second floor, which will serve as a rehearsal hall, and even more importantly as the headquarters for the outreach program for at risk kids. The program uses theatre to teach at risk youth things like anger management and self empowerment.
Down the hall from that, I get to experience viewing the stage from above - higher this time - when Bernice takes me to the catwalk. The structure wraps around the entire stage from above, allowing for lighting and background drops to be hung from it. While standing on the catwalk, one tour attendee joked about the heights, "I'm getting goosebumps just standing here " it's pretty scary!"
We make our way back down to the first floor to the main stage area where President of Stageworks, Andrea Graham happily greets guests. Everywhere you look, people radiate with excitement about the project. I overhear Andrea saying to one person, "For so long it's been a dream." Now, with the funding necessary to complete the construction, that "dream" is coming true for not only Andrea, but for everyone in the Tampa Bay theater community.
Public tours of the almost complete theatre will be scheduled in March. Opening is just around the corner: July 2011! |
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