Stage Center

[Phoenix59]

Yes, Stage Center began as the Mummers Theatre, but for many years before it had the Stage center moniker, it was the Oklahoma Theater Center. I performed in many productions there between 1974-1977, in both of its two theaters (the Arena and the Thrust stages) including "A Christmas Carol," "A Company Of Wayward Saints," "Appleseed," and "Story Theatre."

It would be a damn shame to tear it down.

[Pete]

From that KFOR video, it looks like the inside is in far worse shape than the exterior -- and that's saying something.

I'm afraid the consultants are going to come back with a $20 million (or similar) estimate for repairs and that there won't be the money or desire to pull off a massive renovation.

[UnFrSaKn]

Stage Center may close its curtains shy of 40th anniversary

Show could be over at Stage Center following a “Perils of Pauline” life

BY STEVE LACKMEYER slackmeyer@opubco.com
Published: July 2, 2011

Without dispute, Jim Tolbert is regarded as the guardian angel of Oklahoma City's troubled Stage Center theater.

He's an unlikely theatrical guardian in some respects; he carefully chooses his words, he's quiet and reserved in public, and not one prone to drama. Yet that's what he's facing as he acknowledges the theater he's loved for so long may soon be reduced to rubble.

[G.Walker]

per Steve's recent article, the Stage Center might be demolished, this would be prime location for new high rise

[UnFrSaKn]

I knew there was a Stage Center thread but it didn't show up in a search. You can move that latest article to this one. Sorry.

[betts]

Put me down as someone who loves this building. I don't even know why. Now, if the building is a danger to citzens, I could understand tearing it down. If not, I don't understand why anyone would tear it down. If someone comes to the city and says they want to build a highrise there and we think they're serious, then sure, consider destroying it. But, let's not create an empty lot like the one where the soon to be school is located. We don't need a parking lot next to the Myriad Gardens for years when we can at least have something there that's visually interesting instead.

[USG'60]

Tearing this down would be like tearing down the Bavinger House on purpose. Please Lord, help them find a reason to save it.

[kevinpate]

Makes me sad, but as I read Steve's article, one thought rings out in my head. It's gone. Irrespective of what rises up in the spot it occupies, it's gone.

[foodiefan]

Tearing this down would be like tearing down the Bavinger House on purpose. Please Lord, help them find a reason to save it.

ditto

[BDK]

With the elementary school going in nearby, I think they ought to turn it into a children's museum. It sure looks like one...

[USG'60]

With the elementary school going in nearby, I think they ought to turn it into a children's museum. It sure looks like one...

Or even a creative play area.

[Reno and Walker]

Place is flooded and full of mold... Sad, I used to play there as a kid and throw apples at the bums that slept on the bus stop bench right across walker.. our old address was 11 S Walker before Urban renewal took us out.. I hate to see my old playground go.. It was abandaned back in th 70's and haunted also..

[MikeOKC]

Makes me sad, but as I read Steve's article, one thought rings out in my head. It's gone. Irrespective of what rises up in the spot it occupies, it's gone.

I think you're right, Kevin. As soon as I saw that Devon was helping fund the "consultant," I knew the end of this story. Sad, but true. This city is fast becoming a company town with leadership from CHK and Devon sitting on every board, chairing this and that commission, funding every other study...I know CHK & Devon have done much good. But it comes with a price. It's the Golden Rule: He who has the gold - rules.

[UnFrSaKn]

Here's a repeat from April when I toured the place. (for the lazy that don't want to go back a few pages)

[Questor]

Seems like some have been gunning for this building's demise for as long as I can remember. I was just downtown today taking the nephews on a tour of their city for the first time and this was one of the places that we stopped to look at. We spent hours downtown. While I think our downtown is very pretty, it did strike me how so much of it is very generic, could be anywhere, cityscape. The Memorial was a high point, and so was the Myriad Gardens. And not surprisingly so was Stage Center... it's iconic and unmistakable. Let's face it any structure can be saved and made safe with the right amount of money, and if it can't it can be replaced and reworked to look like the original. Seems like what the article is really saying is that, unlike say the Skirvin, no one is willing to do this because maybe the structure doesn't have a clear money return. It's unfortunate that we don't have more advocacy here for preserving sites that are truly works of art and improve the quality of life for everyone regardless of their economic standing. Or maybe we do but even those groups are not strong advocates for Stage Center. It does seem like there isn't much modernist architecture anywhere in the city, and so there probably isn't an appreciation for it.

[Patrick]

It may look nice and pretty, but it isn't a very useable space. Takes up a ton of space for the small size the performance venues really are.

[ljbab728]

It may look nice and pretty, but it isn't a very useable space. Takes up a ton of space for the small size the performance venues really are.

As much as I love the Stage Center, I've never heard anyone say it looks nice and pretty. LOL

As for the peformance venues, it was never meant to compete with the Civic Center. It served a complete different purpose and the theater areas did that very well. It doesn't have to take of every inch of that block to do so.

[securityinfo]

I travel to Baltimore on occasion, and always visit the Mummers' "big brother" when there. It seems there are many parallels. Here's some links to local stories on the Mechanic from a few years back:

http://archrecord.construction.com/n...10mechanic.asp

http://www.davidsbrown.com/commercia...c_theater.html

http://www.baltimoregrows.com/2008/09/03/514/

Without going into much detail, the Mummers was part of my life until it closed after the first season. My memories (such as they are) are of a new and modern architecture. I even recall telling Mack S. that it needed flat tv screens on the wall (1970)!

I have a few low quality pics of the Mechanic, but as I was looking around it, I was most impressed by how similar the two building are... not just in design, but in the details of time, as how the concrete staining from years of water passing over it was consistent and alike, and how the concrete itself was almost exactly the same color and consistency. The buildings really are a kind of work of art.

Bit OkC has never been a theater town, really more into sports. So unless Devon has some plans, or perhaps Chris K. decides to jump in, I feel that the Oklahoman article is a final obituary. I hope it is not demolished simply for a parking lot.

[Rover]

For all the conspiracy theorists here who don't want Devon to help pay for the study and resent their financial gifts to the city, please go out and raise the millions it will take for mold and mildew remediation, structural remediation, aesthetic remodel, mechanical systems remodel, ongoing maintenance costs of structure and grounds, and probably ongoing negative cash flow required for it to operate. WHO do you expect to address these problems. You don't want more taxes to pay for needless causes. You didn't attend events there with enough frequency to provide adequate cash flow and there is no indication that you will in the future. You just want others to keep paying for things favorable to your cause, but for which you cannot rally the finances to support. If this is something that irritates you then get out there and work for it. It will be easy enough to change an opinion of a study no matter who it is funded by....go raise the money and prove that it has value, at least to some. And VALUE is when someone cares enough to actually PAY FOR IT, not just talk about liking it or the idea of it.

[betts]

I'm in the middle. While I think the Stage Center is unique and actually compliments the Myriad Gardens and will likely compliment the new school, if someone wants to pay a bunch of money to buy the property and put something of substance on it, I'm OK with that too. I'm also more than willing to spend tax money to remediate/renovate it if that's an option as well. My opinion is that I don't want it torn down "in case" someone wants to build a big impressive property on it and it sit empty for 20 years or be turned into surface parking. At least it's a conversation piece at this point in time.

[Steve]

Guys and gals, I'm going to share the bitter truth with you: I suspect that if you want Stage Center to survive, then it will require a community-wide rally for the "cause" that will include a willingness to tap into public money to make it viable for the future. Is this a community asset? And if so, how valuable is that asset?

[USG'60]

Surely Peter Dolese is already organizing such a movement.

[MikeOKC]

Guys and gals, I'm going to share the bitter truth with you: I suspect that if you want Stage Center to survive, then it will require a community-wide rally for the "cause" that will include a willingness to tap into public money to make it viable for the future. Is this a community asset? And if so, how valuable is that asset?

I agree. To me, that would be a proper use of public money. If we can find millions and millions for big business, we can find money for a community arts center. If it needs to be fixed up - let's make it usable! Nobody from out-of-town visits downtown without mentioning that building. Love it or hate it - it's unique, it's iconic, it shows a progressive mindset, it shows people we are more than plain vanilla, it's just such a shame.

[Cocaine]

I don't really like the design of the Stage Center but I think it should be an attempt to renovate it but is very expensive. I don't see it getting saved not unless Devon or any one else with money wants to save it. Well it's a cycle at least it's not as bad as what happened to the Biltmore.

[betts]

I agree. To me, that would be a proper use of public money. If we can find millions and millions for big business, we can find money for a community arts center. If it needs to be fixed up - let's make it usable! Nobody from out-of-town visits downtown without mentioning that building. Love it or hate it - it's unique, it's iconic, it shows a progressive mindset, it shows people we are more than plain vanilla, it's just such a shame.

Agree. I'd certainly be willing to be part of an effort to save it.