The Gartner Gig
Behind the scenes as a classic reemerges

Coming soon... the re-opening of an auditorium near you! The long-awaited finale to the renovation of the Cleveland Museum of Art's Gartner Auditorium is just around the corner. Here are some notes from the script to set the stage for the reopening Gala event on February 28:

Act 1, scene 1: Originally designed by modernist-architect Marcel Breuer, the Gartner Auditorium was part of the 1971 addition to the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Act 1, scene 2: Renovations done by Paul Scarbrough of Akustiks, Inc. and local architects Westlake Reed Leskosky honor Breuer's subtle visual rhythms and warm wood tones throughout the interior and are in keeping with Breuer's original overall elegant visual design. "The renovation will greatly enhance the pleasure of listening and seeing events at the museum," says Massoud Saidpour, director of performing arts, music, and film.

Act 2, scene 1: Asthetics - Dramatic visual rhythms are created by vertical wooden slats extending from about seven feet off the floor to the ceiling. Other features of the renovation a visitor might notice are improvements such as new, more comfortable seats and a new aisle configuration intended to improve sight lines in this overall elegantly designed Hall.

Act 2, scene 2: Acoustics - Pay no attention to the curtain behind those wood slats! Repeating vertical wood slats mask an acoustic curtain that can be drawn or retracted, without being noticed visually by the audience. When the curtain is drawn, the hall's acoustics are absorptive; when the curtain is retracted, they then become reflective, allowing for more sound reverberation. These improved acoustics can now respond to every performance condition, from acoustic classical music to mixing sound in a dry environment.

Act 2, scene 3: Theatrical Capability - The plot thickens with a deeper stage that has a sprung floor, providing performers a more generous platform and greatly expanding the range of performance styles. The ability to temporarily add theatrical wings and new theatrical lighting are additional enhancements to the stage area.

Act 3, scene 1: The Grand Reopening! The return of VIVA! & Gala series to Gartner Auditorium is on February 28 with a reopening bash including champagne and appetizers before the Max Raabe and Palast Orchester performance.

Act 3, scene 2: Eight weeks of free performances throughout spring 2010. The Opening Nights Festival, running March 12 through April 30, 2010, features some of the finest of Cleveland's diverse talent pool. It also allows Clevelanders to experience first-hand the capabilities of the city's newest performing arts venue through a diverse mix of high-caliber instrumental, dance and vocal artists.

Highlights of the festival include performances by members of the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, OperaCleveland Chorus, Roberto Ocasio's Latin Jazz Project, and Harmonia. The festival also includes a screening of the Oscar-winning Harrison Ford movie Raiders of the Lost Ark and the vocal stylings of local singer/songwriter Baby Dee, one of the city's best known alt-rock performers.

Seating is limited and tickets are free for Opening Nights Festival events (excluding Gartner Auditorium Reopening Bash and VIVA! & Gala performances). In the event of a sold-out performance, stand-by tickets will be issued at the door. http://www.ClevelandArt.org

Carol Drummond has been a professional designer for 25 years. Prior to starting her award-winning graphic design studio 15 years ago, Drummond Design, she graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, worked at a graphic design studio, a video production company, and a consumer products company. She has been an art docent for Mayfield City Schools and currently serves on the COSE Arts Network Advisory Committee. http://www.DrummonDesign.com