Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-26
OUR new THEATRE.
Plans Being Inspected by the Con.
tractors
II viii Seat 856 PeopIc-Somc Of The Ar.
rangcmcnts Defined.

The plans for the new opera house
show that the seating capacity of the
place will be $50 in addition to the ca
pacity Of the two boxes. which will
each be made to accommodate six per-
sons. These plans have arrived and
they We're being inspected by the con-
| tractors. Saturday. who were taking
a preliminary look at them prior to be-
ginning to submit bids for the con-
struction of the interior finish
| The new opera house will be similar
to the old one in many respects, but
| with additions and changes such as the
old one suggested and such as the pro-
| gross of architectural science has
brought about in the past few years.
Among other things will be the fact
| that there Will be six feet more height
| for the accommodation of the stage
and the auditorium. This is brought
about by the additional height added
! when the roof was placed over the
! walls of the block after the fire. That
this will be appreciated in the stage
department is no question Mr. w. ii.
INittrcdgr. wLo was with the building
at the time of the old theatre. says the
ceiling was tao low to operate some of
the scenery and this additional six feet
Ct space will be great thing. Other
additional features will make it so that
the stage viii Lc a much better one
than before ana with more room. The
day Of the set scenery is gone by and
in its place Is the drop piece The
scenery Of today consists of not more
tI1.1,, t.i., 4 Il,
rest IL Ill operated from the gal
lery by the means Of ropes and cur
tains The stage will be 20 feet deep
with the curtain down and 81 feet
broad In front Of the stage will be
an additional five feet Of space over
what was there before, I'D this will ma
teria1ly ala in the presentation Of some
of the plays.
But To begin with the second floor
plan ami carry it up through, one will
lind many changes in the entrance
The box office will be nearer the north
entrance than formerly. Here will be
the check room ana larger lobby at
the foot of the staircases that lead to
the theatre and balcony.
The green room will occupy the rest
Of the space on the west side of the
second floor south Of the lobby ana
ticket office This green room will be
fitted with all the convenienCes of the
up-to-date theatre. There will be the
closets, the long sinks for minstrel
companies and every known accom-
mediation to the theatrical art. one
flight IF stairs will lead to the orchcs-
ira entrance from under the west box
and another flight of stairs will lead
behind the 5 cnes of the theatre.
The theatre proper will he arranged
50 that the orchestra seats will accom-
modate 512 people, while the balcony
will scat 3l4 Ii is understood that the
seats will be of the same general de
sCription Of those used in the old the
atrc, which cannot be improved upon. |
Tho arrangement Of the seats is not
Very much different from the old |
though not quite the same. The stains |
will not be far different from the old |
ones.
II the Water street corner of the |
north end will bc'the gentlemen's room. |
while over in the nsrthcrn corner Will |
BE- the ladies' room.
For dressing rooms the plans have |
been more generous than formerly |
There will be seven distinct dressing !
rooms beside the great green rooms |
where some can be accommodated iii /
certain companies ana kinds Of pro 4
ductions. one dressing room is Stu
atcd under each box. one is over the |
west box. while over the east box is Il
store room. Two dressing rooms are
located on the stage floor and three on !
the floor above the boxes along the |
west side Of the building. This can
accommodate more people than in the
old theatre. ana it is one Of the advan-
tI2cs over the old.
The working plans of the theatre
show that everything will be built for
strength ana beauty combined. The
designs over the stage and the boxes
ar" especially pretty and it is suppos-
ed that the colorngs of the place will
be in keeping.
An elevator will run from the alley
way back Of the stores in the building
Ep through the green room and away
up into the fly wings for transporting
the baggage
Taken all in all. those who have seen
thu plans are much pleased with the
general description to be learned from
them ana now they merely await the
time when everything will be ready
for the public to see whether they are
AZ well pleased with the plans after
they are worked out as they are now.
The passing Of the great central
chandelier is noted. No plan is made
for ii. as the lighting will be from
about the balcony ana about the walls
back Of the balcony. The chandelier
that is the source of the breaking of
sound, the causing of 50 many head
aches by straining of eyes and the OBJ
struction Of view will be missing. No
one will be sorry for this. |