A new chapter has been written in the Holland Theatre’s 88-year history throughout this year, with the completion of a $1.6 million restoration and renovation project that caps off other improvements made to the historic facility during the past two decades.
For the most recent endeavor made possible through a $430,000 Challenge Grant awarded by the Jeffris Family Foundation of Janesville, Wis., approximately $860,000 in locally raised double matching funds and a $235,000 award from the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program and other local contributions, the theater stage sat dark during the extensive project from December 2018 until this fall.
Then the curtain rose Oct. 18 for its first post-renovation ticketed show with legendary performer Judy Collins, and openers Della Mae, a Nashville-based, all-female bluegrass and Americana string band.
A host of other talented acts have taken the stage at the 127 E. Columbus Ave. facility since then, including five-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter-producer CeeLo Green, who presented his Holiday Hits Tour concert Dec. 8, putting his creative spin on favorite Christmas songs.
With the wide array of improvements made to the theater to beautify and restore it to its 1931 glory — ranging from decorative finish contractors bringing to life the Dutch cityscape inside the auditorium, to new seating, a restored lobby and concessions area, enhanced sound and lighting, updated green room space for visiting artist, along with other modern amenities, excitement is building in the community and the theater has a new opportunity to offer an elevated level of talent, representatives said.
“The magic is happening everywhere,” Kris Swisher, Logan County Landmark Preservation Inc. board president, said just prior to the re-opening. “Every time I’m here, I see something else. This week, the windmills in the auditorium were turning again. It was amazing.
“I want to see the look on everyone’s faces when they step foot in the theater. I want to thank them and tell them, ‘Look at what you have now.’”
“This has been an amazing experience to be a part of all of this, and we are proud to provide theater-goers with a first-class experience,” Holland Theatre Managing Director Chris Westhoff said.
“As we enter into this next stage of presenting high-caliber acts, I receive more and more inquiries about dates and routings — with an increasingly diverse mix of performers.”
Upcoming performances at the theater in early 2020 include:
• Hank and My Honky Tonk Heroes — 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10; acclaimed performer/musician Jason Petty brings the authentic and insightful story of Hank Williams Sr. to life in this performance, and performs a number of Hank’s hits from ‘Your Cheatin’ Heart’ and ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’, to ‘Hey Good Lookin’ and ‘Lovesick Blues’.
• Remembering Red: A Tribute to Red Skelton — 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1; Brian Hoffman performs a tribute to Red Skelton, after mastering the voices, characters, movements, comedy material, and impersonations of the man who for many years was known as “America’s Funniest Clown.”
• Windmill Productions presents Mary Poppins Jr. — 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15; based on the beloved Disney movie and unforgettable songs and dances of the original award-winning Broadway musical.
• Molsky’s Mountain Drifters — 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22; Bruce Molsky, Grammy-nominated artist on fiddle, banjo, guitar and song, presents his new group, also featuring Allison de Groot and Stash Wyslouch.
• The Brother Brothers — 7 p.m. Feb. 26; featuring Adam and David Moss, identical twins carrying on the folk tradition for a new generation. using minimal instrumentation, heartfelt lyricism, and natural harmonies and drawing on the energy and creativity of Brooklyn, N.Y.
In addition, the Holland Theatre continues this spring with programming offered through the theater’s selection as the Ohio site of the 2019-21 Arts Midwest World Fest that began in the fall. The program offers smaller and mid-size Midwestern communities in Ohio and eight other states with the chance to interact with high-caliber, accessible international artists for week-long residencies.
The week of March 8 through 14, Choor from Inner Mongolia will be visiting the Logan County area to provide workshops at area schools and other community spaces, concluding with a performance at the theater.
The name “Choor” is an old Mongolian word that means, “polyphonic, harmonic, and overlapping,” and is used to describe a variety of musical techniques within Mongolian music. Their performance features the sounds of Morin Khuur, or horsehead fiddles, and world-famous khoomii throat singing.
Future engagements with the other Arts MidWest World Fest music groups take place in Logan County during the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021.
Prior to the start of the $1.6 million theater project this year, Karen Beasley of Beasley Architecture & Design of Bellefontaine, working alongside restoration architect Lauren Burge of Chambers, Murphy and Burge, created the plans for the Thomas & Marker Construction-led project.
Now as theater-goers enter the renovated facility in through the outer lobby, they will notice that the former ticketing booth and concessions stand has been removed from the center of that space. The original three ticketing windows located along the west side of the outer lobby will be utilized once again for their intended purpose of ticket sales.
The ticketing area also has been connected to current office area, providing for convenience for staff and safer handling of money.
As guests walk to the upper lobby, an expanded concessions and bar, along with a merchandise area, have been installed in between the entry doors to the auditorium.
Inside the auditorium, the former tech booth has been moved out from its former location under the balcony for an improvement in acoustics. Sound proofing materials and bass traps also have been installed, along with new speakers and other sound equipment.
New seating throughout the auditorium replaces the original seats that had been patched and repaired through the years, with the historic end caps for seating rows kept in place. Nearly 100 additional seats have been added to the renovated space, which now seats 574 people, with premier rows at the front for 40 to 50 guests, Westhoff related.
For the stage, new flooring has been installed, along with improvements to the lighting as well.
Throughout the fall, work continued on the basement space to transform the area into a professional green room space for visiting artists complete with dressing rooms, restrooms and shower.
“It will be much improved compared to what we previously had, and a wonderful amenity for our traveling performers,” Westhoff said, noting that work on the space could not begin until the tax credit funding was secured this summer.
While the theater’s $1.6 million comprehensive project is its biggest to date, previous projects to improve the venue have taken place since 2000 with a cumulative total of approximately $1,211,895. Previous work includes: $80,000 roof work in 2000; $173,194 restroom upgrades in 2004; $100,000 in stage improvements during 2008; $120,000 in office and gallery renovations during 2009; $100,000 in stage lighting and sound improvements during 2010; $483,701 in HVAC upgrades during 2008; $100,000 in ceiling work during 2014; and $55,000 for upper lobby work during 2015.
For further details about the renovation project and a schedule of concerts for the 2020 season and ticket information, visit www.thehollandtheatre.org.