CAPrrAL TIMES, October 4, 1989
The HersheyTheatre: A bit of old Europe
H.W. Rappold
Capital Times Staff
Through Milton Hershey's travels to
Europe he fell in love with the
architecture of Venice, Italy and wanted
to bring some of it back to central
Pennsylvania.
In doing so, Hershey built a
magnifacant theatre for the community. '
The theatre is central Pa.'s answer to
Broadway or way off-Broadway. Some
shows warm-up in Hershey before going
onto Broadway, like "Fiddler on the
Roof" this season. After
performances on Hershey's stage in
January, the show will re-open on
Broadway in April.
The 1904 seat theatre was cheap, $3
million, to build during the depression
with both labor and material costs at an
all time low. "Looking up is most
peoples first reaction when entering the
theatre," according to Susan Fowler,
Executive Director of the Hershey
Educational&Cultural Center which runs
the theatre.
Inside the most special part of the
theatre has to be straight up. Overhead is
whats called an atmospheric ceiling, a
hallmark of the 1900-1920 era. This
ceiling, with house lights low, gives the
look of twinkling stars overhead. This is
done by 88 small holes filled with 10-
and 25- watt light bulbs. To accompany
this, is another lighting effect that
makes it look as if clouds are drifting
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ARTS & LEISURE
slowly overhead.
The design of the inner walls of the
theatre appear to be directly from a
castle. The gray, stone castle like walls
of the theatre, along with the
ormamental balconies tend to take you
back to another time. They helped to set
the imagination to thinking and ready it
for the performance on hand.
Up and down, move that scenery. On
the stage this is possible, seven
hydraulic elevators built into the floor
can raise sections of the stage up to
seven feet into the air. The back elevator
even is able to go below stage level.
This gives the ability of placing props
and scenery in below stage level storage
rooms until needed.
Besides the stage area a lot of thought
went into th eplanning of the Grand
Lobby and the Inner Foyer. Two artists
labored for two years to complete the
blue and gold mosiac of the domed foyer
ceiling. The design is sure to catch your
eye, that is as long as you look up to
see it.
When entering the theatre's Grand
Lobby it is easy to be overtaking by the
splendor of the decor. The design of the
lobby is Pompeian with floors made of
polished Italian lava rock and walls of
four different types of marble. The
ceiling is covered by a painted canvas
that is adhered to the plaster.
This all began 56 years ago with a
man and his dream; the dream of a
theatre for the community and the man
Milton S. Hershey and today the dream
is still is alive and put to use. This
dream is well taking care of; with the
theatre blocking out a few months of the
year for up keep and repairs.
The stage has been home for many
shows throughout its 56 year history. A
variey of off-Broadway touring shows,
many musical acts and movies have all
been enjoyed by thousands of audiences.
Today all three types of entertainment
are still using the theatre.
Mick Jagger, left, together again with the Rolling Stones. The Stones performed
Sept. 24 in RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
11 /% L WPSH A O"
THE VOICE
OF CAPITAL COLLEGE
Rob Base &DJ E Z Rock IT TAKES TWO
FYC DON'T LOOK BACK
Bobby Brown ON OUR OWN
Living Colour CULT OF PERSONALITY
Tone Loc FUNKY COLD MEDINA
Paula Abdul COLD HEARTED
REM STAND
Living Colour GLAMOUR:BOYS
New Order FINE BOYS
The Cult FIRE WOMAN
Erasure A LITTLE RESPECT
Modern English I'LL MELT WITH YOU
Elvis Costello VERONICA
B-52's ROCK LOBSTER
XTC DEAR GOD
"WE ARE ON THE AIR"
The theatre runs a classic film series.
Fowler said that these films can attract
up to 1400 people. Movies from the
past such as "Gone with the Wind" or
"Singing in the Rain" can still pack'em
in.
Their isn't a bad seat in the house
according to Fowler. The theatre is
designed to give most anyone a good
clear view of the stage. Still, for Fowler
her favorite place to watch a show would
be from the back of the theatre and watch
the audience enjoyment.
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