Shubert Theater

[Web]

I find it hard to believe that they couldn't just leave the balconies and renovate them a few years down the road.

any outdoor pix???

Nothing much to look at, just some cranes. I'll get a pic if I get the chance though.

thanks

[seanrichardryan]

I tried to play photog while waiting at the light. There is a backhoe behind fences on the corner of 5th and Hennepin. Not sure for what, a construction staging area? It does appear they are doing some digging. Perhaps they got ambitious and decided to build market rate condos with vibrant street-level retail all the way to the corner.

[seanrichardryan]

The blond brick on the backsides is getting a much needed cleaning today, the theater is coming alive. Old 'ghost ads' are appearing on the North wall. The bricked up windows are opened up too. No balconies, but it is coming together.

[MNdible]

Have they started construction on the new stagehouse? I need to get down there to check things out.

[seanrichardryan]

They have certainly moved a lot of dirt, but I didn't give it the once around.

[seanrichardryan]

Poor quality cell phone shots from today.

[kessdawg]

Tower crane is installed. Front of the building is starting to be worked on.

[seanrichardryan]

They've changed the name of their brick shell to "Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Arts" in honor of John and Sage Cowles. huh. I hope that's not on the restored marquee.

From the Star Tribune


Shubert renamed to honor John and Sage Cowles
Last update: June 29, 2010 - 10:18 PM

You won't have the Shubert to kick around anymore. For years, detractors within and without the arts community have raised a skeptical eye at the rehabilitation project that is converting the century-old Shubert Theater into a center for dance in downtown Minneapolis.

The organization spearheading the renovation said Tuesday that it is renaming the facility in honor of longtime arts patrons John and Sage Cowles. The name change to the "Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Arts" was announced at a gala event honoring the couple.
"We hope the new center will do for this wonderful art form what the Guthrie did for theater beginning in the early 1960s," Sage Cowles said.

John Cowles, former CEO of the Star Tribune, was a key figure in founding the Guthrie Theater in 1963.

"We don't need to have our names on more things, but if it will help the project, we're happy to do it," he said.

Sage Cowles trained as a dancer and had a long association with Merce Cunningham, serving as president of the choreographer's foundation. The new Cowles Center is scheduled to open in fall 2011.

GRAYDON ROYCE

[elfangor801]

Snapped this when I was downtown today. Seems so small when you actually look in the inside.

[seanrichardryan]

Cowles construction photostream-

http://www.thecowlescenter.org/construction.html

[seanrichardryan]

I'm confused. Are those temporary steel columns while they rebuild the balconies? Or is there really going to be 5 columns across the sightlines, or any balcony seating at all (it is raked though). Are any plasterwork and boxes returning? Would an architect on this project please make some sense to me, or at least release an interior rendering.

[seanrichardryan]

They've changed the name of their brick shell to "Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Arts" in honor of John and Sage Cowles. huh. I hope that's not on the restored marquee.

Nevermind, here it is- now with ficus trees!

cowles.jpg (59.79 KiB) Viewed 228 times

[seanrichardryan]

I was suprised that the new fly-house is being constructed of poured concrete. Does 'modern' dance even have props other than lame' leotards?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thecowlescenter/show/