Author: Brad Weissberg

Heavy Duty

Heavy Duty

Posted by | Sep 9, 2019 | ,

After Mary Poppins flew into the balcony at the Fox Theatre, this outside exit needed to be tented for the curtain call in case of rain. (Courtesy Fox Theatre) How theaters handle the demands of the most complex traveling productions Flying carpets, falling chandeliers and a magical nanny that hovers above the audience have been stretching the limits of the special effects that theaters can accommodate. Theatrical productions are getting bigger and heavier and often require additional structural work, leaving operations managers scrambling to retrofit their venues. “Creative people will always push boundaries,” said Bill Dantos, vice president of theater operations for Blumenthal Performing Arts, which runs the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. “And the operations directors at PACs have to deal with it or lose the show.” Dantos had to reach out for help to mount “Phantom of the Opera,” “Aladdin,” “Mary Poppins,” “Billy Elliott” and “Jersey Boys”… Continue Reading Heavy Duty

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Despite protests, HKCEC remains open

Despite protests, HKCEC remains open

Posted by | Sep 5, 2019 | , ,

Protesters take part in a rally at Tamer Park in the central district of Hong Kong on Sept. 2. (Getty Images) Despite airport closures, road blockages, large-scale protests and civil unrest, The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is open for business and operating as normal. The city has seen weekly protests with crowds in the millions taking to the streets to fight China’s extradition policy, which after months of protests was withdrawn by Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam yesterday, Sept. 4. “Since July we have been operating as usual,” said Monica Lee-Müller, managing director of HKCEC. “Although there have been road closures nearby during several public activities, the HKCEC has remained accessible by foot and public transit. For the most part, private cars and freight trucks have been getting through.” There were cancellations of flights departing and arriving at Hong Kong International Airport, primarily focused on a single weekend,… Continue Reading Despite protests, HKCEC remains open

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Bursey to lead Texas Performing Arts

Bursey to lead Texas Performing Arts

Posted by | Sep 5, 2019 | , , ,

Bob Bursey. (Courtesy University of Texas)  The College of Fine Arts on the University of Texas campus in Austin named Bob Bursey executive director of the Texas Performing Arts, starting Jan. 1, 2020. Bursey comes to the venue from New York, where he serves as executive director of the Richard B. Fisher Center for Performing Arts at Bard College. Prior to that, Bursey was producing director of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company. The Tony-winning producer has organized more than 100 productions and he will be responsible for more than 280 performances each year in his new role. Bursey will hold an additional appointment in the College of Fine Arts as an associate professor of practice. Texas Performing Arts manages venues that range in size from the 244-seat Brockett Theater to 2,900-seat Bass Concert Hall.

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Tucson Complex Getting $65 Million Renovation

Tucson Complex Getting $65 Million Renovation

Posted by | Aug 30, 2019 | , ,

The exhibit hall and other areas of the Tucson Convention Center in Arizona are getting an upgrade. (Courtesy Tucson Convention Center)  Convention center, music hall among buildings being improved The Tucson Convention Center in Arizona and the other venues on its campus are getting a $65 million upgrade. Built in 1971, the complex includes the 90,000-square-foot convention center, the 8,962-seat Tucson Arena, the 2,294-seat Tucson Music Hall and the 511-seat Leo Rich Theater. The convention center, which already features 205,000 square feet of meeting space, will get a $14.7 million renovation. New meeting rooms, IT enhancements and a new floor for the ballroom will make up most of the work. New seating and upgraded sound will be part of the music hall remodel. New landscaping in front of the plaza and fountain is also being planned. The complex has been overhauled before. In 2016, $3.7 million in enhancements were done… Continue Reading Tucson Complex Getting $65 Million Renovation

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Center Theatre Group Promotes Two

Center Theatre Group Promotes Two

Posted by | Aug 30, 2019 | , ,

Lindsay Allbaugh and Neel Keller. (Courtesy Center Theatre Group) Allbaugh moves into associate artistic director post; Keller adds duties Lindsay Allbaugh has been promoted to associate artistic director and Neel Keller to associate artistic director/literary director for Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, which consists of the Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum in downtown Los Angeles and Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Allbaugh joined Center Theatre Group in 2004 as assistant to the managing director and later worked in  in various capacities throughout the artistic department, most recently as associate producer. She produces the annual Block Party program featuring Los Angeles-based theater companies, which she helped launch in 2016, and mainstage productions including “Indecent,” “Bent,” “The Nether,” “Women Laughing Alone With Salad,” “Good Grief,” “Archduke” and multiple Samuel Beckett plays, including “Waiting for Godot, “Endgame” and “Happy Days.” Allbaugh spent 10 years as co-artistic director of the Elephant Theatre… Continue Reading Center Theatre Group Promotes Two

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