Comments (8) | Add a comment
Jane Ann Morrison
Potential of new performing arts center getting rave reviews
Tools
More Columns
More Blogs
Clark County firefighters who raise money for charity must now do it on their own time
Applause for Beers at GOP dinner thundering
National spotlight on Mob Museum highlights 'Sin City'
Morse Arberry Jr. reaches plea deal; charges to be knocked down to misdemeanor
Commissioner needs to choose his battles wisely
Carly Simon's hit "Anticipation" could easily serve as the theme song of the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, now a year out from the March 10, 2012, opening with the Broadway musical hit "Wicked."
Until then, fans of the performing arts can only daydream about seeing top-notch cultural performances of symphonies, plays and ballets in a world-class setting in downtown Las Vegas.
The anticipatory buzz is building, partly through VIP tours of the site, such as the one Wednesday for Janice Allen and 20 of her friends.
Allen is the widow of Fred Allen, who came to Las Vegas in 1948 and drilled water wells all over the state and developed land. Their $1 million donation makes them the 44th founders of the Smith Center.
"You'll never see the Smith Center in an uglier condition than today," laughed Myron Martin, president and CEO of the Smith Center. While the outside looks impressive, even though incomplete, the inside is a maze of scaffolding.
The women on this tour, all locals, probably will be among those buying tickets to the various events. How much will tickets to "Wicked" sell for? Where's the parking? What shows are coming?
Tickets for "Wicked" are from $39 to $99. Martin said there is a system in place that should prevent ticket re-sellers from snagging the best seats.
He asked the women, mostly Junior League friends of the latest founder, to imagine a Saturday night when four events might be going on simultaneously. The largest event might be a musical in the 2,050-seat Reynolds Hall. A smaller production could be at the 300-seat cabaret theater, a children's theater, or a private reception might be presented in the 200-seat studio theater. And on the two-acre Symphony Park, there could be an outdoor performance.
As for parking, that starts with surface parking nearby and valet service. The World Market Center's 6,000-vehicle garage across the street will be available when needed.
Other shows haven't been signed, but Martin, with a wink and a nod, mentioned that he had seen several "very, very good shows" including "Mary Poppins" and "Memphis."
Anyone can drop by the Smith Center Design Gallery, 241 W. Charleston, Suite 111, during business hours to see the mock-ups of the Smith Center, inside and out. The materials to be used are on display, along with a full size replica of a theater box.
"Built to last," one woman said after the tour.
"On time and on budget," Martin said with pride.
Who pays for the $470 million Smith Center? It's about half private and half public financing, Martin said. The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation has kicked in $203 million, and the private fundraising is $20 million short of the final goal.
A 2 percent tax on rental cars raises public money. The city of Las Vegas provided the five-acre site and some infrastructure.
For Janice Allen, being one of the Founding 50 means she and her husband become part of something wonderful and permanent, a part of Las Vegas' cultural history.
A few months before he died in 2008, her husband talked about wanting to be a part of the Smith Center, named after Fred and Mary Smith, who were friends of the Allens.
"I'm so happy and proud to be a part of it," Allen said. "It's something we've needed for so long."
When the center opens next year, we'll be thanking the folks who in 1994 came up with the idea of a great performing arts center in Las Vegas -- Steve and Elaine Wynn, Don Snyder and John Goolsby -- and the donors who made it possible.
That's when anticipation and imagination will give way to reality and the sound of music.
Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.
Comments
Terms & Conditions
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The Review-Journal does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please use the Report Abuse button.
Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 24 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
"Tickets for "Wicked" are from $39 to $99. Martin said there is a system in place that should prevent ticket re-sellers from snagging the best seats."
Who do I need to talk to when ticket sales get underway and it's actually double or triple that amount?
Another place for the rich to dump their money! I can think of a better place for the 2% tax on car rentals. Let the Wynn's and other fat cats pay for this and then they can share in the profits. Can you say boondoogle!
GM4321 Pound sand...moron. Let those homeless stay at your house...obviously you purchased a computer...with all those homeless people shouldn't you have donated that money to help them...Do you really need a computer? What, so you can come on here and make asinine comments? I am not rich, however, I will be buying tickets to see Wicked! when it comes to town. No homeless people better get in my way, either. How 'bout that?
rmolnar - Yes, I'm sure that 2 percent is really going to kill your trip to Vegas...shutup...quite honestly don't come back...go to Reno...or Palm Springs...anywhere you cheapskate.
The 2% tax and other fees and taxes on rental cars makes me think twice about renting a car in Las Vegas. Us tourists don't have unlimited funds.
Maybe the firefighters can take up a donation for the much needed performing arts center. When it is completed the wealthy will have another place to go to avoid the commoners.
It's clear that the solution to Las Vegas' problems is the construction of state of the art arenas and entertainment complexs with on street parking.
$470 MILLION for an arts center while there are 17,000 homeless people in Las Vegas. The rich play while the poor starve.