State Theatre Center for the Arts restored to former splendor
People stop by Marty Schiff’s Main Street office and ask to see the inside of the State Theatre Center for the Arts, curious about what’s changed in the 83 years since the theater first opened. Their reactions are always the same.
“Their mouths drop,” Schiff said, smiling.
Entering its 16th season of plays since the Greater Uniontown Heritage Consortium purchased it in 1988, the theater has undergone renovations to help restore it to its original splendor.
Looking back on nearly a year’s worth of work as the theater’s executive director, Schiff said he is pleased to see how the State is coming along.
Several physical changes done between January and April have helped restore the theater’s elegance, Schiff said.
The entire foyer area was restored, bringing it back to the feel of the theater’s 1922 opening. The box office was rebuilt, the ceiling and floors cleaned and the original chandeliers were repainted. The only additions were sconces on both sides of the foyer, Schiff said.
“This room pretty much looks like it did in 1922,” he said.
The lobbies on the floors of the theater were redone, and the restrooms were renovated, adding more space and stalls to the women’s restrooms to triple their size.
The original chandeliers hanging in one lobby were dipped in gold, and parts of the theater were repainted to liven them up.
“It’s got a sense of elegance and style back to it now,” he said.
Handicapped-accessible restrooms have been added to the theater, as well, and Schiff said elevators eventually will be installed to make the State more accessible.
Improvements were completed through money from the Eberly Foundation and Joseph Hardy, Schiff said.
The theater originally opened as a movie palace in 1922 but closed in the 1970s. It reopened as a music hall but closed until it was purchased and again opened to host stage performances. Over the years, the theater has hosted swing music concerts, plays like The Who’s “Tommy” and “Cabaret” and comedy legends like George Carlin and this season’s opener, Bob Newhart.
“We’ve taken this theater to another level,” Schiff said, noting that he believes it is on par with Pittsburgh-area venues.
The theater was designed by Thomas Lamb. “The equivalent of what Frank Lloyd Wright is to Fallingwater, Thomas Lamb is to theaters,” Schiff said.
Last year, ticket sales increased 40 percent, Schiff said, and he said the upcoming season will cause another jump in sales, particularly with the season opener. Bob Newhart, who has entertained generations with both his stand-up and his hit television shows, takes to the stage Oct. 15.
“We’re opening with probably the strongest show in years with Bob Newhart,” Schiff said.
The theater is also hosting a two-day run of “Radio Days,” offering a matinee for patrons. Schiff said he is using that as a test of sorts to see if audiences will be receptive to a multi-day run.
He said he plans to draw in new patrons by advertising, letting them know that Fayette County has a lot to offer. With a new dining venue across the street in 30 East Main and plenty of historical attractions, Schiff said it is easy to see Fayette County as a place to go for a weekend getaway.
“We are a vibrant entertainment option,” Schiff said.
And while set size and the length of a play’s run limit the theater, Schiff said he is constantly searching for community-friendly plays to bring in.
Schiff said he hopes to start an off-Broadway series, bringing in shows from New York to entertain people. Film festivals, featuring classic movies, are also in the works, he said.
The Ballet LaFayette, the theater’s in-house ballet company, will hold its inaugural performance in October. Schiff said the company, composed predominantly of local dancers, will perform “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
The theater also is hosting acting classes for children on Saturday mornings and adults on Monday nights, Schiff said, noting he is hopeful that the State may host community theater plays at some point.
Future goals for the theater include remodeled dressing rooms, modifications to the air conditioning and installing an elevator to make the State even more accessible to handicapped patrons.