Stage Center

[dteagle]

I attended one production there more than 10 years ago. I can't remember anything that made it particularly great. And as someone who has half-heartedly defended the structure to visitors from East Coast cities who are used to tasteful downtown architecture, I'd be happy to contribute to a demolition fund. Either that or let's fix it and go with the decades-old suggestion to landscape it out of sight, at least from our most prominent streets.

[Rover]

Good article in the Gazzette.

[Rover]

Anyone notice the letter in the Oklahoman today from Max Weitzenhoffer? Stated that the SC is a failure as a theatrical performance venue and always has been. He would qualify as an expert on the issue.

[ljbab728]

Anyone notice the letter in the Oklahoman today from Max Weitzenhoffer? Stated that the SC is a failure as a theatrical performance venue and always has been. He would qualify as an expert on the issue.

Yes, I did notice that. He has excellent credentials as a theatrical producer in New York and London. I wonder if he ever had any first hand experience with the Stage Center. Other than his background at OU I've not heard of what else he's done with local theater. You have to respect his opinion in any case. He was a member of my fraternity at OU and graduated a few years before me. I did meet him, however, at some fraternity functions.

[Steve]

I can tell you there are other VERY respected leaders in the arts community who share similar thoughts. There's a common theme emerging in the arts community - that John Johansen did NOT design this theater with their needs as a paramount concern, but rather, and this is their argument - that Stage Center was a monument to his creativity, and that over rode all else ....

[Rover]

Yes, I did notice that. He has excellent credentials as a theatrical producer in New York and London. I wonder if he ever had any first hand experience with the Stage Center. Other than his background at OU I've not heard of what else he's done with local theater. You have to respect his opinion in any case. He was a member of my fraternity at OU and graduated a few years before me. I did meet him, however, at some fraternity functions.

His expertise in the area is unquestioned excellence. But, it doesn't take an expert to see the limitations in the SC venue. Of course there can be local productions there. You can have a one man show on a street corner or in a lean-to but that doesn't make it a good venue. I just don't see anyone coming to rescue this except if they honestly believe it has value as art alone.

[Larry OKC]

Maybe someone who has eclectic tastes, such as Wayne Coyne, can purchase it, move it, and repurpose it?

[MustangGT]

Johansen built it as a memorial to himelf and himself alone. Not an infrequent occurence with arrogant/prima dona architects and designers. Even if the building fell in tomorrow there is nothing that is even visible on the horizon (5-7 years) to replace it with another theater. Unless the private market foots the entire bill.

[Jim Kyle]

John Johansen did NOT design this theater with their needs as a paramount concern.

I've trimmed the quote down, not to attribute this opinion to you, Steve, but to emphasize its point. I was around at the time Stage Center was built, and had earlier been active in the Mummers as a part of the backstage crew although never on stage myself. At that time, "theater in the round" was the fad du jour and almost all of the arts community thought of nothing else. Thus the building was built for that sole purpose -- making it totally unusable for such productions as "Man of La Mancha" or the upcoming "Peter Pan." To get general popular support in this area, "the round" is far too confining. I suspect this basic incompatibility with many of the most popular properties has a lot to do with the lack of support for keeping the building, architectural treasure though it might be...

[Just the facts]

Maybe someone who has eclectic tastes, such as Wayne Coyne, can purchase it, move it, and repurpose it?

But Wayne Coyne isn't stupid.

[OKCisOK4me]

But Wayne Coyne isn't stupid.

+1

[bluedogok]

But Wayne Coyne isn't stupid.

You know what the difference is between "eccentric" and "crazy"?
Your net worth.


He is eccentric, but not crazy. If he could get it for a bargain price, he would probably do it but everyone knows the development potential of that land is worth more than the building sitting on it.

[Just the facts]

He is eccentric, but not crazy. If he could get it for a bargain price, he would probably do it but everyone knows the development potential of that land is worth more than the building sitting on it.

Even if he got if for free - it would still take millions to fix and no revenue stream to make the money back.

One of my hobbies is designing Lego structures using Lego Digital Designer. I might try my hand at Stage Center. If it works out it might make a unique addition to the Lego Architecture Series (I own the whole collection). Anyone know where I can get a comprehensive collection of photos?

on edit - scratch the Lego idea. I found a lot of good photos on the first page of this thread. It would take 750 or more lego pieces to do it.

[Steve]

I've trimmed the quote down, not to attribute this opinion to you, Steve, but to emphasize its point. I was around at the time Stage Center was built, and had earlier been active in the Mummers as a part of the backstage crew although never on stage myself. At that time, "theater in the round" was the fad du jour and almost all of the arts community thought of nothing else. Thus the building was built for that sole purpose -- making it totally unusable for such productions as "Man of La Mancha" or the upcoming "Peter Pan." To get general popular support in this area, "the round" is far too confining. I suspect this basic incompatibility with many of the most popular properties has a lot to do with the lack of support for keeping the building, architectural treasure though it might be...

Jim, just make sure nobody gets that confused... attributing that quote to me would get me in a lot of hot water

[Jim Kyle]

Jim, just make sure nobody gets that confused... attributing that quote to me would get me in a lot of hot water

I tried to make it clear. I'll see if I can edit that post to make it even moreso.

EDIT: Nope, too much time has gone by since I posted and the "edit" button's not there for me any more.

[Larry OKC]

Jim, you can try contacting one of the Mods, they can give you access to edit after the time has expired.

[betts]

http://newsok.com/developers-to-be-s...ad_story_title

Local architects have struck an agreement with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to create and issue a nationwide request for development proposals for downtown's troubled Stage Center theater.

[Spartan]

Cool deal!

[Rover]

I think this is good and should be pretty definitive. If they are able to uncover something nationally that we couldn't locally, it is good. If they can come up with a viable plan with financing that would be super. If they can't, then at least all avenues were explored. And I think this is the right group to spearhead it as it has more architectural history value than theatrical value. I wish them luck.

[Just the facts]

3 acres for 500 seats is a waste of space. It is a crime against urbanism and should be corrected at the first possible opportunity.

[Double Edge]

Eh, to the contrary for starters, New Urbanism supports green space, which this site has lots of, and historic preservation.

I hope this results in a solution to keep it but I'm not holding my breath.

[Rover]

You mean there isn't a "one size fits all" answer for urbanism?

Sorry, just being sarcastic. I am glad there is a recognition that "urbanism" doesn't have strictly rigid guidelines and works from principles of good design that includes many elements. People would be surprised how much green space, plazas, boulevards, etc. there are in many very urbanized cities. If this building can be preserved with a sustaining use, then having green around it shouldn't be a problem.

[Spartan]

3 acres for 500 seats is a waste of space. It is a crime against urbanism and should be corrected at the first possible opportunity.

I'd call that rather one-dimensional thinking. Perhaps the fact that they got 500+ seats on a site in addition to a brutalist monument is a testament to architectural greatness.

I'd always thought if they would just please remove the shrubs and trees covering it up that its prospects would improve dramatically. More people would notice it and be intrigued by it.

[Just the facts]

Eh, to the contrary for starters, New Urbanism supports green space, which this site has lots of, and historic preservation.

I hope this results in a solution to keep it but I'm not holding my breath.

There is already plenty of open space downtown. It is right across the street from an existing park and a block away from what will be a very large urban park. It will be interesting to see what kinds of proposal come in to rebuild a place that won't have any tennants.

[Spartan]

Kerry, I think you have a very warped view of downtown. For starters, there is not nearly as much demand for development as you seem to think there is. Especially when you have a business community that is extremely conservative as we do here. This is why OKC in general doesn't have flashy development simply because it's considered unnecessary and ostentatious. Are you expecting big-time mixed-use development to take place on the Stage Center site, on the Preftakes block, where the CC is going, up and down the Boulevard, not to mention keep Deep Deuce and Bricktown going and somehow develop C2S? Chicago would even have trouble meeting all of those development needs.