Major Renovations Planned for Covedale Center This Summer

The Covedale Center for the Performing Arts - owned and operated by Cincinnati Landmark Productions (CLP) - will undergo a massive renovation aimed at improving the patron experience. The work was identified shortly after CLP bought the building in 2002 (with support from the city of Cincinnati), along with four other phases of renovation work to transform the old movie house into a 21^st century performing arts center. The work scheduled for this summer is the last of the original five-phase renovation plan.

"Our patrons have supported our efforts to produce professional theater on the west side," said Tim Perrino, executive artistic director. "We're very excited to in turn give our patrons a great front-of-house experience and the first-class amenities they deserve."

The renovation work - estimated to cost $158,000 - includes:

• Electrical work/repair of the iconic marquee
• New programmable LED information panels installed on the marquee
• New energy-efficient entry lobby doors
• Complete lobby beautification, including new tile flooring, paint, lighting
• Expansion of the current women's restroom
• Creation of a new, dedicated wheelchair-accessible restroom off the lobby
• Re-sealing of the parking lot around the building
• Replacing a section of roofing above the lobby

Upgrading the marquee to programmable digital sign panels will allow CLP to feature community events and neighborhood initiatives on a rotating basis for Glenway Avenue traffic and passerby. A 1999 city of Cincinnati survey calculated that 15,000 people pass the building daily.

The project will also beautify and increase the restroom facilities in the lobby, which are too often over-crowded during busy show nights. The renovations will increase the number of women's fixtures from five to eight.

"Expanding the women's restrooms has easily been the most requested improvement to the building since we took over," Perrino said. "We're very pleased to be able to address that, so we can more quickly get people back in the theater to socialize, talk about the show and catch up with their friends."

The Covedale Center for the Performing Arts has been an unqualified success since it opened in 2002. Last year, over 35,000 ticket-buyers (representing 321 different zip codes) saw a show at the Covedale, making it a true regional destination. The Covedale Center's more than 3,600 subscribers make CLP one of the most popular and fastest-growing arts organizations in the area.

Final support was secured this spring to start work on the building renovations. Financial assistance was provided by:

• The City of Cincinnati - Neighborhood Business District Improvement Program grant
• PNC Charitable Trust
• The MH Foundation
• The Ohio Valley Foundation - Fifth Third Bank, Agent
• Two anonymous "friends of the Covedale" donors
• Patron donation campaign during the season

The Covedale Center won't be dark all summer during renovation work. The 32^nd annual Cincinnati Young People's Theatre teen program will still rehearse and perform its summer musical Grease at the Covedale. To accommodate the performances, the lobby improvements will be broken up and split between May/June work and August work. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in time for the new 2013-14 Covedale Center subscription season when the Johnny Cash musical, Ring of Fire, takes the stage on September 5.

The last production of the current season - Legally Blonde - wraps this Sunday, May 5. Tickets for the final weekend are still available.

Previous renovations to the Covedale building completed by CLP included:

• Turning a two-screen movie house into a single 400-seat auditorium
• Building a stage and permanent theatrical lighting grid
• Adding a 1,700-sq. ft. rehearsal hall and backstage dressing rooms
• Re-installing the iconic light beacon on the top of the building

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