Ray of Light

Sunlight pours into the theater while equipment is being loaded into the attic through an access door in the roof.

Paint Stripping

A member of the construction crew goes to work with a heat gun and scraper, to clean years of paint off the 1926 solid Cyprus columns around the atrium.

See a video of the work here.

Construction Tour

Executive Director Susan Danis tours the theater with past Board Chair Edward Bavaria, his wife Jane, and their friend Joan Stonecipher.

Crane, Part 1

One crane is used to attach an extension to another crane.

Large air conditioning duct segments are lifted to the roof of the theater
for installation in the attic.

Orchestra Pit, A Look Back to July

Some earlier photos of the orchestra pit taken by Willis A. smith Construction, Inc. in July. See more photos here.

Orchestra Pit Construction Continued

The orchestra pit floor and outside walls are finalized.

Skylight

Two shots of the Atrium before the skylight went on by Willis A. Construction, inc., and one with the new skylight.

Orchestra Pit Costruction

The rear area of the pit, which will eventually be covered over by the new stage, begins to take shape.

Casiana and Bill Schmidt

Donors Casiana and Bill Schmidt on a tour of the Opera House with Executive Director Susan Danis (center). The renovated auditorium will be named the William E. Schmidt Opera Theater in their honor.

Atrium

The Lobby Atrium seen from the corner of the third floor McCorkle Lounge.

Fire Tower Reroofing

The roofing crew works at clearing the tile off of the fire stair tower between the theater and the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt Courtyard.

Truss Installation

A new truss is installed on the roof of the theater. This truss will carry some of the weight of the theater roof to the outside walls of the theater, allowing the removal of the projection booth columns in the center of the balcony.

Excavating Under the Stage, Part 2

A backhoe works its way out of the theater, as excavation of the rear of the orchestra pit is completed.

See Part 1.

Merrill Lynch

Executive Director Susan Danis and Controller Ken Kwiatkowski of Sarasota Opera on a tour of the theater with Managing Director Larry Fraczak and Executive Assistant Sheila Pearson of Merrill Lynch.

Sheila Pearson, Susan Danis, Larry Fraczak, Ken Kwiatkowski

Courtyard Reroofing - Video

The construction crew forms a human chain to speed the removal of the old roof tile around the Donna wolf Steigerwaldt Courtyard.

See some earlier photos of the reroofing.

Atrium Scaffolding

Scaffolding setup in the atrium to facilitate plastering and painting.

Roof Sequence Continued

The roof is prepared for the skylight.

The skylight is lifted into place.

Roof with the new skylight in place. and old tile removed from the fire stair tower at left.

View the earlier post on the reroofing of the Opera House.

Grading the Theater - Video

A load of dirt is dumped for the bobcat to smooth the theater floor.

Grading the Theater

Soil is brought in through the back of the theater by a backhoe and smoothed out by a green bobcat to make a level surface for the pouring of the theater floor.

Harvey and Betsy Hinrichs

Board member and Building on the Vision Campaign Co-Chair Betsy Hinrichs visits the theater with her husband Harvey Hinrichs.

Courtyard Reroofing

The old roof tiles are removed from around the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt Courtyard. They will be replaced with new ones, true to the historic style of the Opera House.