A view from the street of Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla.
Architect Barton Myers has a saying that theaters are the longest pregnancy in architecture. In the case of Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., it’s hard to argue with him.
Myers, with his firm Barton Myers Architecture, has been involved in designing a performing arts center for Orlando since then-Mayor Glenda Hood first brainstormed the idea in the mid-90s. He’s been actively involved as design architect for the current project since 2004, making the opening of Phase I Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Nov. 15, a decade-long endeavor.
Richard Pilbrow, founder & chairman of Theatre Projects Consultants, has been involved for nearly three decades, beginning with a preliminary study for the city in 1985.
“I’m a bit older than I used to be,” said Pilbrow, who added, “it’s very exciting to see this, at last, come to fruition after all these years.”
What will open is Phase I of a two-part, $515-million project — with Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts being an expansive building that includes the 2,731-seat Walt Disney Theater, the 304-capacity Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, the 400-capacity DeVos Family Room that overlooks downtown Orlando, and the Seneff Arts Plaza, an outdoor space that can accommodate nearly 10,000.
Walt Disney Theater will serve as the second-largest Broadway-style theater in the United States (with the largest being Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Calif.). These types of theatres are defined by being very intimate for their size, with the balcony close to the stage and step-down boxes on either side of the auditorium.
“It’s a uniquely American form of theater that we at Theatre Projects Consultants have been very involved in reviving as a model for new theaters,” said Pilbrow.
Walt Disney Theater, named after a $12.5-million contribution from Walt Disney Corporation.
The large theater will serve as the home for touring Broadway and large concerts. It will officially open with Broadway and Beyond, a one-night-only variety show featuring Tony-nominee Norm Lewis, leading soprano Deborah Voigt, Latin star Ektor Rivera, Argentinian dance duo The Lombard Twins, a full 26-piece orchestra made up of members of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and many others.
“It’s important to us that it’s not just a black-tie gala, so half the house is saved for very affordable seats for the show,” said Kathy Ramsberger, president of Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets, which range from $125 to $250, include an after-party on the Seneff Arts Plaza with a champagne toast and reception.
Before even opening, the facility exceeded the record in Central Florida for most Broadway subscriptions, counting 10,011 on Nov. 8. The first touring Broadway show will be “Phantom of the Opera.”
Myers considers the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater “a gem — the most interesting thing I’ve done.”
The small community performance space will have its first performance with Emmylou Harris, Nov. 14.
“Normally that type of theater is called a black box, but this is the opposite,” said Pilbrow. “It has all aluminum balcony fronts and a beautiful painted ceiling that just makes it colorful and bright.”
“Barton is an absolutely brilliant theater architect and has added fantastic character to these astonishing buildings,” he added. The flexible space can accommodate a flat floor for parties, proscenium seating, or a thrust stage.
Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater features a ceiling filled with back-lit artwork.
DeVos Family Room creates excitement upon arrival, with the space jutting over the street to create a powerful space for the marquee. Also, the addition of the outdoor Seneff Plaza was key to take advantage of the Florida weather.
The look of the building itself features a glass façade.
“We wanted it to be a very transparent open glass structure with a lot of openness, like an invitation to come inside,” said Ramsberger. “There’s a great feel of natural light in every space.”
“The idea of communicating and connecting with people didn’t stop for us with our guests and the front door — we brought that all the way to the back of house,” she added.
Architect Barton Myers is known for his unique facilities and signature staircases.
The facility also includes the School for the Arts, with a small rehearsal hall, three studios, two classrooms, and an office for visiting teachers. Programs have already begun and will include dance, music, theater, performance-based education, professional development, and partnerships with local schools for after-school programs.
Much of the lobby spaces and a roof garden also serve as programmable spaces.
“When you do performing arts spaces, every space that can be programmed, will be programmed,” said Myers.
He estimated that the current facilities cost north of $150 million, with much of the advertised cost going to other parts of the project including future work.
Ramsberger clarified that, currently, $367 million is committed to the project, which includes the acquisition of land for the entire piece of property that will include Phase II, as well as construction drawings complete through the documents for Phase II, as well as a yearly operating budget that, this year, is estimated at about $26 million. Of the $515 million overall cost for Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, $480 million has already been committed, made up by a variety of sources. Not only is there a business tax from downtown Orlando, but also a tourist tax in all of Orange County. There was a $15 million grant from the state and the University of Central Florida, and nearly one-third of all funds have come from philanthropy efforts.
The performing arts center also has a membership program, with packages ranging from the friend level at $75 to the $10,000 championship level. All members receive access to presale tickets, with champions receiving access to a Donors’ Room, artist meet-and-greets, and various additional perks.
“We haven’t even had our opening performance yet and we already have more than 900 members from 11 counties, four states, and two countries outside the United States, all with 100-percent grassroots efforts,” said Ramsberger, who added that the facility has made a corporate season pass available, with access to a corporate lounge, as well.
The nonprofit 501(c)3 Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts also took over management of Bob Carr Performing Arts Center Oct. 1, formerly a city-managed facility that is still owned by Orlando. The nonprofit entity will operate Bob Carr PAC until Phase II of its facility is complete, when it will then be decommissioned for performing arts.
The main entry for Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is at street level.
Phase II is set to break ground by the end of 2015, scheduled for completion in 2018. It will include a 1,700-seat acoustic theater that Myers said is his best work so far. The hall will serve as the home of Orlando Philharmonic and the Orlando Ballet. The acoustic theater literally converts from a symphony hall to an opera house in less than two hours at the touch of a button.
“All of the seating is mechanized so it can go from raked seating to a flat floor, so you can have large-scale flat-floor events, a symphony, opera, promenade concerts, a standing audience, or a bloody big party,” said Pilbrow. “These are quite challenging times and every theater space has to be adaptable so it can perform the widest range of services to the public and give them the greatest possible variety.”
Already, the new center’s calendar is filling up, as well as dates at Bob Carr Performing Arts Center.
A Jazz Roots series plays Walt Disney Theater select dates Nov. 20-April 17, with a performance of Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker Nov. 29. Broadway begins with “The Phantom of the Opera,” Dec. 3-14, followed by “The Book of Mormon,” Dec. 26-Jan. 4. Joe Bonamassa stops at Walt Disney Theater Dec. 16.
Yo Gabba Gabba heads to Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, Dec. 6, followed by Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band, Feb. 18.
“We have very few available dates until the end of the first quarter of 2015, and the rest of the year is pretty busy as well,” said Ramsberger.
Interviewed for this story: Barton Myers, (310) 208-2227; Richard Pilbrow, (203) 299-0830; Kathy Ramsberger, (407) 839-0119