Hall Auditorium being renovated

Renovations to AMAM, Rice Hall, and Hall Auditorium near completion

A series of summertime construction projects aimed at renovating and rehabilitating Rice Hall, the Allen Memorial Art Museum and Hall Auditorium are nearly complete, College officials say.

While students who have walked by Rice or the Museum may have noticed construction workers or fencing indicating work in progress, the changes at Hall are of a more subtle nature, according to Associate Professor of Theater and Dance Mike Grube.

Grube is overseeing a $125,000 replacement of Hall's original rigging system, which dates back to the opening of the building in 1953. The new system will include special locking devices that will improve safety for the cast and crew of the plays and operas regularly staged in Hall. The rigging is 95 percent installed and will be ready for use in time for the late September opening of M. Butterfly.

Another $150,000 went toward completely replacing Hall's lighting system, which has developed some problems during recent performances. The new ETC brand system includes a computerized light board replete with touch pads and dimmer-per-circuit technology, allowing lighting designers to exercise greater control over productions. The system should also make its debut with M. Buttefly.

According to Grube, the enhanced system will really shine later in the semester, when its improved capabilities will be explored during the staging of the opera Manon. "There were no snafus. We're on time, and on budget," said Grube. "We're really happy and I think the students will be even happier once they get to start operating the equipment."