in other news, somebody affiliated with the civic center was paid to write and proofread this sentence. -M

I feel sure that the trained professionals at the Civic Center posted this as received from the organization. I am here to defend her honor as she is busy fielding literally thousands and thousands of protest emails.

Whatever happened with the planned Civic Center renovation? Is it ongoing? Has it started yet?

Whatever happened with the planned Civic Center renovation? Is it ongoing? Has it started yet?

I was there for a play last Saturday night and saw absolutely no signs of any renovations occurring.

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PROPOSITION NO. 8
(CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX)

...incur an indebtedness by issuing registered bonds in the sum of Twenty Million One Hundred Eight-five Thousand Dollars ($20,185,000)


1. Repair, renovate and improve the Civic Center Music Hall, to include the Main Lobby and the Freede Little Theater. $14,190,000

2. Repair, renovate and improve buildings and facilities within the Civic Center Complex, to include Americans with Disability Act (ADA), heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), storage, restrooms, signage and technology improvements. $3,980,000

The balance of said funds shall be used as follows:

Repair, renovate, improve, equip and furnish City buildings and facilities within the Civic Center Complex, which may include technology improvements; and, expenses of the bond issue. $2,015,000

Laramie, thank you for compiling and posting all this information. This is extremely helpful and informative.

I noticed the LED streetlamps along the perimeter of the Civic Center are either wired wrong, have faulty bulbs/ballasts, or are experiencing some type of feedback issue.

Video Link:

https://streamable.com/f3pft

This row of lights and then random others in the same area were all strobing like a rave.

Been happening in other areas, drives me nuts. Best bet is to report to the action center. You can email your video and give them an address and they will get on it.

Hamilton tickets went on sale to the public today thru the CC website or walk up. Were still tickets late this morning for various shows when I checked especially ones toward the end of the show. Many of the early shows only had single tickets.

I got my tickets this morning at 10:30 after getting in the online queue at 9:15. There were only tickets available for the 8/2 and 8/3 shows when I got a single ticket for the Saturday matinee. I could only get 2 together if I paid $775 for the pair. Of course I only had 8 minutes to complete my order so I didn't feel like I could afford the time to do an extensive search before I timed out. When I asked my husband if he wanted to go he did not display the appropriate enthusiasm for me to spend almost $400 for his ticket so I decided to go alone.

I got my tickets this morning at 10:30 after getting in the online queue at 9:15. There were only tickets available for the 8/2 and 8/3 shows when I got a single ticket for the Saturday matinee. I could only get 2 together if I paid $775 for the pair. Of course I only had 8 minutes to complete my order so I didn't feel like I could afford the time to do an extensive search before I timed out. When I asked my husband if he wanted to go he did not display the appropriate enthusiasm for me to spend almost $400 for his ticket so I decided to go alone.

There were a ton available when I looked today depending on the date. I was able to find multiple options in Orchestra for $200/ticket for a pair.

There were a ton available when I looked today depending on the date. I was able to find multiple options in Orchestra for $200/ticket for a pair.

Same here - lots of tickets on the later dates when I was on about 11 AM. We already had ours from OKC Broadway and decided to pass on 4 more.

I've been three times - twice in Chicago, once in Dallas. It's probably my favorite artistic achievement even if the history is problematic. Here's Lin Manuel when he first wrote the opening song a decade ago:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNFf7nMIGnE

Hamilton opened Tue night. My wife went with a friend last night, had never seen it and really enjoyed it. I'm going Saturday night and looking forward to it. They have been pushing people to arrive really early due to security. She got there about an hour before and said it was no big deal.

Hamilton is such an incredible performance. I'm a big fan, and I can't recommend it more highly. I am stunned how many tickets are available... I've never seen that anywhere else.

And if you're really interested I highly recommend this book in addition to Chernow's biography the play is based on: https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/historians-on-hamilton/9780813590295

Hamilton is such an incredible performance. I'm a big fan, and I can't recommend it more highly. I am stunned how many tickets are available... I've never seen that anywhere else.

And if you're really interested I highly recommend this book in addition to Chernow's biography the play is based on: https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/historians-on-hamilton/9780813590295
This is a three week stand here and I don’t think many tickets are available at all.

This is a three week stand here and I don’t think many tickets are available at all.

There are MANY MANY tickets still available.. over 100 most nights.. over 700 and 800 nights towards end of run. one night over 1100 still available .. a 3 week run and Hamilton tickets are a bit higher than the rest of the season.

Had a hard time getting the show/rates we wanted within the first hour of sales

There are MANY MANY tickets still available.. over 100 most nights.. over 700 and 800 nights towards end of run. one night over 1100 still available .. a 3 week run and Hamilton tickets are a bit higher than the rest of the season.

That’s interesting given the civic center is staffing the whole three weeks for full attendance.

There are MANY MANY tickets still available.. over 100 most nights.. over 700 and 800 nights towards end of run. one night over 1100 still available .. a 3 week run and Hamilton tickets are a bit higher than the rest of the season.

Just curious where you are getting the available # from?

I just checked one site and they show a TOTAL of 652 tickets lef. over the next 20 shows. Had 32 available for next 7 shows.

Just curious where you are getting the available # from?

I just checked one site and they show a TOTAL of 652 tickets lef. over the next 20 shows. Had 32 available for next 7 shows.

https://okcciviccenter.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=HAMILTON&linkID=occ&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=&_ga=2.91900760.332506104.1564689709-1979902749.1564689709

https://okcciviccenter.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=HAMILTON&linkID=occ&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=&_ga=2.91900760.332506104.1564689709-1979902749.1564689709

yup. that is where I got my information. it shows each date how many remaining. I didn't make those numbers up..lol
I have been looking at the tickets available this past month.. didn't buy because wasn't sure dates I was available and it was clear I didn't need to rush.

yup. that is where I got my information. it shows each date how many remaining. I didn't make those numbers up..lol
I have been looking at the tickets available this past month.. didn't buy because wasn't sure dates I was available and it was clear I didn't need to rush.

Got it.

As you see, the close in tickets are scarce. I expect most will be sold out or near sell out. I know they aren’t expecting many to go unsold over the entire run. Lots of people coming from other cities.

oh considering its a 3 week tour its sold well for sure. the tour is so extensive however I think less people from other cities are traveling but some are. for us we can't really pull much from Tulsa since Hamilton leaves OKC and begins its run there. It just finished up in Kansas City and I believe already hit Dallas and hits Ft Worth early 2020. they really canvased this tour but wont be hurting for sales.

If you have the chance, I highly recommend going to see Hamilton while it's here. I saw it and was very impressed. It lived up to the hype--very entertaining and worth every penny. Plenty of tickets are available and the Civic Center is a great venue.

City planning a $9.4 million renovation to the Civic Center, funded by 2017 revenue bonds.

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https://www.velocityokc.com/blog/development/renovations-new-addition-planned-for-civic-center-music-hall/

The Freede is soooo long overdue. I never understood why they ignored it during the major renovation. It's just nasty in there. And glad to see it will have its own entrance. If you're not familiar with where it is, it's difficult to find. I have to admit, the first time i saw a show there, i had absolutely no idea the place even existed before! But once i went inside...yuk. I mean talk about dust bunnies even. The size of soccer balls on the ceiling folks. And that color scheme is probably the original!

It's really a chance for OKC to create a real art deco gem in that space. I hoe they dont go on the cheap on the actual theater and dont spend it all on the new entrance.

Work has started on the Freede Theater:

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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/civiccenter110721a.jpg

presuming all the rooftop stuff is dead or otherwise remains unfunded

^

I believe the only thing going forward at this time is the Freede Theater.

^

I believe the only thing going forward at this time is the Freede Theater.

There's work happening on the interior as well. Some adjustments to the main atrium and lobby going on

There's work happening on the interior as well. Some adjustments to the main atrium and lobby going on

I apologize, I forgot they were redoing the main lobby of the Civic Center.

The renovation will change the look and functionality of the lobby:


In the Thelma Gaylord lobby, the renovation plans call to remove the ticket booth, the glass walls and the bar, creating a more open space. The stairs near the theater, donned in red, are being removed as well to create more space.

A new central bar, serving spirits and coffee, is being built closer to the theater’s exterior wall, though two other bars are being added to the north and south side on the first floor. The north bar will be housed in a glassed-off area for VIPs.

The building’s main entrance will also have a new security system, first installed at Frontier City this summer. Evolv Express can screen 3,000 people an hour for weapons, helping to keep the line moving and allowing people to get to their seats in time.

The men’s first floor restrooms are being renovated and more dressing rooms are being added in the back of the house area.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/civicenter090820f.jpg

A couple more renderings of the renovated lobby; it will be far more open than before:

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Beautiful! Can't wait!

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From the Civic Center FB page, the Freede Theater before and after they removed the seats as part of a complete renovation:

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One more from last Friday:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/civiccenter022322c.jpg

This is just a shot in the dark but those pictures scream "asbestos remediation required" to me.

^

In that last photo, it looks like that ceiling covering has been removed.

Asbestos removal is so common now, they just bring in a specialist to quickly bag it up and dispose of it properly.

Excited for this. its such a cool space but had just gotten dingy and dated in a not so charming way. that fluffy blow in acoustic stuff looked so gross and dusty and i would comment how it was most likely asbestos.
Cant wait to see the progress.

So glad this is actually happening. This place was ignored during the original renovation and was (obviously) hurting badly. When groups like the OTC had performances there, the space just felt sad.

Hopefully, we'll get a blue or something to complement the deco elements and not go back to that horrible pink color.....bleh.

I’ve only been inside the Freede Little Theater one time one time in the nearly four decades in which I’ve lived in OKC, though I’ve been in the great hall on many dozens of occasions.

I gave a presentation in the Freede there during the Statewide Historic Preservation Conference (ironic) a few years ago, and spent most of my audience time looking around and wishing for it to be restored, and wishing for more opportunities to experience that room. It’s a treasure. So glad that this is happening. Hoping to see some real activation there after the renovation.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/civiccenter031922a.jpg

The inside lobby work has begun. Panels are up to block off the construction area. Mainly the lobby staircase to upper orchestra is being removed from what I saw.

The inside lobby work has begun. Panels are up to block off the construction area. Mainly the lobby staircase to upper orchestra is being removed from what I saw.

Also going add here, the glass panels at the entrance are starting to come down, which will open the atrium up.

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They just announced Vince Gill will be at the Civic Center on August 12th.

looks like OKC's concert/live performance scene is slowly starting to return back to pre-pandemic levels :)

^^^^^^^^^
It’s actually BETTER right now than it was pre-pandemic. I think it’s where we might’ve been circa late 2020 or early/mid 2021 had the pandemic not happened at all. The pandemic set it back, but we are gaining ground on where we might’ve been in 2022 otherwise.

Very good to hear Urbanized!

Will likely forever be crossing my fingers for a true outdoor amphitheater, like Fiddlers Green in Colorado or the one in Bonner Springs. Live nation-managed/owned, so all the big summer tours will come through. But yes, OKC has seen an uptick in their concert game.

They just announced Vince Gill will be at the Civic Center on August 12th.

With or without the Eagles? :)

Will likely forever be crossing my fingers for a true outdoor amphitheater, like Fiddlers Green in Colorado or the one in Bonner Springs. Live nation-managed/owned, so all the big summer tours will come through. But yes, OKC has seen an uptick in their concert game.

How many acres is fiddler's green?

How many acres is fiddler's green?

Not sure. But a 20,000 seat amphitheater, or even one not in a zoo like the one in Rogers, would do wonders for the music scene here.

How many acres is fiddler's green?

Just 3-4. It sits in the middle of a nice suburban office park.

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They should have recovered some of that blonde brick from the demoed police station to use over here...

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