Grand opening brings diverse performances into harmony
Published: September 13, 2009
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SLIDESHOW Dress Rehearsal - Scenes from Thursday's dress rehearsal for the grand opening of CenterStage. MORE • Curtain rises on CenterStage • Grand opening brings diverse performances into harmony • CenterStage holds open house today • Richmond CenterStage timeline |
People were comparing Shostakovich's "Festive Overture" to champagne practically before the ink was dry on the pages back in 1954. It's the sort of music that's both effervescent and dramatic, like a bottle breaking over the prow of a ship.
In other words, it's perfect music for first voyages and grand openings.
The Richmond Symphony Orchestra performed "Festive Overture" in the Carpenter Theatre last night as part of the concert celebrating the opening of Richmond CenterStage.
The concert included short performances by all nine resident companies: Richmond Symphony, Richmond Jazz Society, African American Repertory Theatre, Virginia Opera, Barksdale Theatre/Theatre IV, SPARC, Elegba Folklore Society, Richmond Shakespeare and Richmond Ballet.
The behind-the-scenes technical work for a show of this magnitude must have been mind-boggling. Close to 200 performers spun, drummed, sang and tapped their way across the stage. About 50 played in the orchestra pit, a dozen ran down the aisles, and four were lowered from the ceiling. A few individual malfunctioning mics were the only noticeable hitch.
To cut down on stage changes, and because it accompanied six of the other eight performances, the symphony performed from the orchestra pit the whole time. This unfortunate but necessary decision was mitigated by the excellent camera work that projected video images of Associate Director Erin Freeman and the musicians as they performed.
The energy-filled evening included the widest diversity of performance types you're likely to see on one stage, ever.
It was particularly good to see the African American Repertory Theatre, making good use of the large stage. AART has primarily performed on the absurdly small stage in the city's Pine Camp Cultural Arts Center. Last night's excerpt from "Langston Is My Man" by artistic director Derome Scott Smith used a percussive set piece -- think pans, trash cans and wash buckets, a la "Stomp" --along with choreography, vocals and recitations to evoke the feeling of Langston Hughes' poetry and the street sounds of Harlem.
It was also a treat to see Elegba Folklore Society on a full, indoor stage. In the past, Richmonders were likely to see them perform outdoors or in other settings where distractions abound. Amadou Kouyate's performance on the stringed kora, accompanied by drummers and dancers, was gorgeous.
An emerging theme in CenterStage publicity is that of collaboration and partnership. AART involved young dancers from the City Dance Theatre in its performance. Barksdale is partnering with The Latin Ballet of Virginia for a fall production of "Boleros for the Disenchanted," represented last night with a dance.
Richmond Ballet's arresting performance of the final section of "Windows," choreographed by artistic director Stoner Winslett, closed the program. Dancers dressed in luminescent gray costumes held glowing orbs and set the stage alive with movement. It was 15 minutes of sheer beauty and drama -- visual champagne.
But a perhaps more significant moment came at the end of the first act. Performers from the Barksdale presentation of songs from "High School Musical" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie" joined other singers for the final chorus of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" from "The Sound of Music."
Cheerleaders, nuns, secretaries -- what different mountains each is climbing. But their voices joined in song seemed to symbolize the power of music and the arts to bring diverse perspectives into harmony.
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Reader Reactions
The alumni and current students of SPARC did indeed cover themselves with glory. Even the youngest performers sang well with admirable stage presence and focus.
With the opening of CenterStage and the ongoing renovations to the historic Landmark Theater, Richmond will have two top-notch venues. Whether or not you ever attend a performance in these halls, this will benefit Richmond’s ongoing efforts to establish itself as a world-class city, will further tourism development, and will help attract businesses whose employees care about quality-of-life issues.
Both the Richmond Ballet and Richmond Symphony are gaining well-earned national reputations. Thank goodness they now have an excellent home worthy of their merit.
I was shocked to read this review and not read anything about the fantastic “Les Miserables” set performed by stundents in SPARC. Their medley completely stole the show, and I’m sure the 1,800 people sitting around me who went wild for it would agree with me.
I too just came back from the open house at CenterStage.
I must say like the poster before me it is stunning and breathtaking—well worth the money. I agree wholeheartedly with “Adelphi.“ Absolutely beautiful!! Thanks to everyone involved in the planning, execution, design, and building of the structure. Excellent melding of the two main structures into one fantastic one.
This is an excellent example of taking our beautiful architecture in the city and improving it to bring it up to 21st century standards. Many people would rather see these gems demolished, then rebuild into monstrosities like West Broad Village is.
I attended the open house today (they should be given huge thanks for planning such a welcoming event). The CenterStage complex is s stunning achievement for Richmond. The Carpenter Theatre has never looked better and everything about it is first class. I am excited beyond words to attend CenterStafe on a regular basis and to experience the best of the arts.
To those of you make derogatory comments about CenterStage:
Ok, if you don’t want to partake of the offerings, no one is holding a gun to your head to attend. That’s fine with me.
Your type of entertainment is truck shows, wrestling, RIR racers who go around and around a track, stoned singers who can’t sing worth a darn, stupid comedians who think it’s OK to describe bodily functions in a perverted way and think it’s funny, etc.
There IS room for both people in this city—something for everyone, but don’t knock me for wanting to see and hear the Richmond Symphony, Richmond Ballet, Virginia Opera, legitimate theater, etc. belt out their beautiful music, dance, or performances throughout these halls. Our wait is over and let the show begin!! Hooray.
I will gladly pay the ticket prices to enjoy myself for 2 hours so I can refresh myself, in order to deal with NARROW-MINDED people who can’t see beyond their stupid cable show on their 52” flat screen TV who think the world revolves around THEM.
I can’t wait until my first Richmond Symphony performance to hear their beautiful music and see the new performance hall.
Well I hope you guys are happy! You finally got your hi-falutin venue, so you can sit in plush comfort for your opera, symphony, theater, ballet and all the other crap most REAL people could care less about.
Don’t fret. There is still plenty of entertainment in Richmond for you. Heck, Larry the Cable Guy will be at The Coliseum soon!
Well I hope you guys are happy! You finally got your hi-falutin venue, so you can sit in plush comfort for your opera, symphony, theater, ballet and all the other crap most REAL people could care less about. The vast majority of Richmonders will never even enter the building. On the same night this opened to what? maybe 3000 people, 100,000 people would rather be watching cars go in a circle. And where was Wilder? This was his baby!
Correction: the composer’s name is Jonathan Romeo.
It should be noted that Willie Hinton’s fantastic choreography for the African American Repertory Theater was performed by the award-winning City Dance Theatre, a group of extremely talented and professional teenage dancers from the City of Richmond’s Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ dance program at Pine Camp.
You can learn more about City Dance Theatre and the remarkable City Dance Program at
http://friendsofcitydance.org
It should also be noted that Stoner Winslett’s wonderful choreography for the Richmond Ballet was set to an outstanding commissioned orchestral work by Midlothian-bred composer James Romeo.
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