Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-29

time being, withheld.
New Seating Arrangement.
THE plans for the building are made
suitable for the needs of the American
public today and do not conform to
the traditional arrangements of the
European opera house. The orchestra
floor will be on the level of the street,
to be reached through lobby of ample
dimensions and rich design. Two grand
staircases of the foyer lead to the
mezzenine and the balcony above and
will be sufficiently large for the patrons
and unusually attractive. The gallery
of the foyer opens directly into tier Of
boxes.
The tier of boxes was designed after
careful study of the music halls and
opera houses of the world. The boxes
are so arranged as to afford the occu-
pants of each full view of the stage
and the audience below, and, likewise.
will give the audience below a full view
of the boxes and their occupants. Pri-
vate stairwayS will place the occupants
of the boxes and auditorium in intimate
touch, thus affording an opportunity
for social intercourse during the inter-
missions. To the rear of the boxes
are convenient retiring rooms.
ON each side of the foyer will be
large stairway leading to the balcony,
which will be higher than usual above
the auditorium and boxes
Few halls have been erected in this
country with proper stage facilities and
orchestra pit. Washington has no place
for the proper presentation Of opera.
In the contemplated opera house, it is
planned to have very wide proScenium
and stage of such adequate dimen-
sions that there will be no difficulty in
staging the largest opera companies in
the world, ballets and great ensembles.
The orchestra pit will be depressed and
will seat rs musicians.
President to Have Box.
by far the most interesting feature
in connection with the project is the
plan for the sale of the 26 boxes. There
will be, in all, 81 of these boxes. the
center box, No. l, to be reserved Tor the
President of the United States. For
each box sold there will be issued a GER
tif1cate Of preferred stock to represent
the interest in that particular box. This
certificate of preferred stock will carry
with it the absolute ownership OF the
box and the exclusive right OF use OF
the same at any and all performances,
the owner to have absolute dominion
over the box at all times. The preferred
stock representing ownership in the
boxes sold will be lien on the prop
erty of the corporation to the extent
that in the event of a sale of the prop
erty or a dissolution of the corporation
the price of the preferred stock Will be
repaid to the purchaser.
Several factors have contributed to
bringing the plan for this opera house
long under consideration, to its present
stage of completion. The Governments
triangle building program is soon to
take away Polls Theater. While this
is the only available theater in wash
ington where it has been possible to
present the best music, still the stage
there and the seating capacity are
wholly inadequate for such purposes.
Keeping Pace With City.
washington is growing steadily, and
with the Federal Governments actual
embarkation upon its own long-consld-
cred plans for adequate buildings, is
nearing the ideal set for the most beau
tiful capital of the world. Accompany
ing this physical growth has been
Washington's steady development as a
cultural center with a population that
is not only appreciative but DESTROYS OF
the finer things. The demand exists
for a suitable building for, grand opera
and high-class concerts. The means
to supply it are available, and the time
is ripe for its actual construction.
"The project has been under con-
sideration for many years. 1t has been
discussed not only with Washingtonians
who are interested in the citys devel-
opment as a great music center, and
are willing to give their assistance to
that end. but with the country's lead
ing producers. who are anxious to bring
to washington such companies, produc-
lions and organizations that heretofore
have been to some extent debarred by
reason of the lack of adequate accom-
modations. The time for this pre-
liminary discussion is past and We are
ready to go to work. The nature OF
this enterprise assures its success"