Inside CenterStage

Richmond CenterStage will finally, officially, open its doors, giving patrons their first glimpse of the $73.5 million downtown performing-arts complex. In the future, the three main venues — 1,800-capacity Carpenter Theatre, 200-seat Gottwald Playhouse and multipurpose Rhythm Hall — will showcase national and local acts, workshops and other interactive activities.

By: Times-Dispatch Staff | Times-Dispatch
Published: September 10, 2009

FLOOR PLAN: Artist's rendering of the interior of CenterStage

Richmond CenterStage will finally, officially, open its doors, giving patrons their first glimpse of the $73.5 million downtown performing-arts complex.

In the future, the three main venues — 1,800-capacity Carpenter Theatre, 200-seat Gottwald Playhouse and multipurpose Rhythm Hall — will showcase national and local acts, workshops and other interactive activities.

But Saturday, the focus will be on the nine resident groups of CenterStage: Richmond Symphony, Elegba Folklore Society, Richmond Shakespeare, Richmond Jazz Society, African American Repertory Theatre, Richmond Ballet, Theatre IV-Barksdale, SPARC and the Virginia Opera.

About 225 “cast members” will participate in the grand-opening showcase — the youngest is 6 and the oldest 76 — as each organization offers a brief performance that spotlights its specialty.

“We’re all back home together,” said Richmond Ballet Managing Director Keith Martin, whose organization will perform Artistic Director Stoner Winslett’s “Windows IV” at the christening of the Carpenter Theatre, where all of Saturday’s performances will take place.

Other planned presentations include Richmond Shakespeare performing songs and sonnets from the Bard; the African American Repertory Theatre giving a sneak peek of its upcoming production about Langston Hughes; the Virginia Opera offering excerpts from “La Bohème”; and the Richmond Symphony performing Bernstein’s overture from “Candide” and Dmitri Shostakovich’s’ “Festive Overture” with live accompaniment from Richmond Ballet, Virginia Opera, Richmond Shakespeare and SPARC.

“We want [CenterStage] to be far more than the symphony’s home,” said David Fisk, executive director of the symphony, which is moving its offices to occupy two floors of the building. “It has to be a building that is accessible to many, many groups. That’s one of the most exciting aspects for us — to see the audiences intermingle and cross-develop.”

Saturday will give Richmonders their first chance to make that happen.