May 24, 2002

Expertise in Equipping Restored Historic Theatres;                                       Specializing in Client Satisfaction

Stage Front Presentation Systems is proud to have participated in the renovation and restoration of dozens of historic theatres in Georgia and South Carolina.  We have worked on these projects in numerous capacities, but are typically subcontracted by architectural firms that value our deep expertise, our flexibility and our focus on quality.   Regardless of its role, SFPS has a reputation for working well within the unique financial and design parameters on an historic restoration to deliver long-term client satisfaction.

Two recent examples of SFPS historic theatre restoration projects are the lustrous Rylander Theatre in Americus, and the charming Hawkinsville Opera House in Hawkinsville, both in Georgia.  A few other SFPS historic theatre projects include:

Lucas Theatre, Savannah,GA                   Bluebird Theatre, Orangeburg,SC Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA     Grand Opera House, Macon, GA Imperial Theatre, Augusta, GA                 Grand Theatre, Fitzgerald, GA Douglass Theatre, Macon, GA                  Martin Centre, Douglas, GA        Bacon Theatre, Alma, GA                         Martin Theatre, Dublin, GA         Township Auditorium, Columbia, SC       Glennville City Auditorium, GA

Springer Opera House – Trustees Theatre – Rylander Theatre

The Rylander Theatre underwent a $4.5 million restoration between 1994 and 1999.  In 1998, when historic theatre veteran Norm Easterbrook was hired as its executive director, all of the Rylander’s major construction, ornamental plaster and painting has been completed, but no decisions had been made on stage equipment and funds were thin. Easterbrook’s job was to make it a functioning theatre.  He undertook an intensive specification and bid process

Easterbrook said “I selected Stage Front because of their attitude toward the theatre itself, their openness with key information and their understanding of what I needed to achieve.”

For example, after the installation of a video projection system bright enough to work with full houselights and providing a screen configuration that met his exacting requirements, Easterbrook was still not pleased with the sound portion.   Financially constrained from upgrading the rudimentary legacy sound system with new equipment, he asked SFPS to make recommendations.   When they returned, he was pleased to see only one request for new equipment included in its proposed solution to the video sound issues.

“What I like most about SFPS is their ability to have a reasonable discussion, and to have those discussion always lead to mutual agreements,” said Easterbrook, who originally worked with SFPS during his tenure at the Imperial Theatre in Augusta, Georgia.

The Hawkinsville Opera House restoration was also encountering the need for frugality said Barbara Lawson, chair of the local arts council that oversees the its operation.  Although the community had raised $1.7 million, she estimates the project needed an additional $1.3 million.

“Working with the architect, when we realized what our budget would and would not cover, our stage production plans were the first thing that was cut,” Lawson said.

She was impressed with the willingness of SFPS to work within the budget to make sure that things went as well as possible despite severe constraints.

Although it lacked the funds to buy seats and lighting in time for its opening night “Chautauqua Celebration,” the Hawkinsville Opera House was not dark.  SFPS was pleased to help out through the loan of temporary lighting that allowed the show to go on.  Resulting from its successful opening and subsequent bookings, the opera house was able to raise the funds it needed for lighting installation within two months.

“Needless to say,” she said, “I’ve never before encountered this kind of willingness to work with a situation and to work for a long-range good, rather than get stymied by an immediate challenge.”

SFPS continued to work closely with architect Charles Brittain of the Macon, Georgia firm Brittain, Thompson, Bray, Brown and Lawson to design stage lighting, audio, projection, and stage curtains and rigging to support events that have helped the theatre to once again become the town’s cultural center.

LET SFPS LIFT THE TECHNOLOGY BURDEN OFF YOUR SHOULDERS
SFPS provides audio, video and lighting design support to architects and engineers for education and entertainment facilities, including classrooms, lecture halls, theatres, courtrooms, boardrooms and churches. For more information on our services, contact Stage Front at sales@sfps.net.