New Theater

Sunday evening, per standard practice, we delivered many of the various materials we had just struck from the Varsity Theater stage, which we used in DMTC's production of "The King and I," to unused floor space storage at DMTC's New Theater (under construction). It's always a special treat to tour the job site.

Construction on the New Theater has started again at a modest pace, following the arrival of a new business loan from River City Bank earlier this month. Construction had been at a halt since November 1, 2004, after we exhausted previously-collected funds. This start-and-stop construction schedule is the unfortunate consequence of having to raise funds and build at the same time, which in turn resulted from the City of Davis' abrupt change in direction regarding Varsity Theater management in April, 2002.

New Theater construction is expected to accelerate when new money arrives in August, or early September. Meanwhile, DMTC is securing bridge funding to keep construction crews busy regardless, so when more money arrives, the race to completion will start from as close to the finish line as possible, and with as little disruption to the 2005-06 season of shows as we can manage.

The new construction so far seems to revolve mostly around the orchestra pit. A lot of new concrete was evident around the pit.


The proscenium arch, as seen from the back of the hall. Seating risers are in the pallets in the foreground: the orchestra pit lies behind the pallets.


Display boards loom above the New Theater lobby.