Clemens Center facts for kids
| Address | 207 Clemens Center Parkway Elmira, New York United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°05′22″N 76°48′19″W / 42.089573°N 76.805411°W |
| Owner | Chemung County Performing Arts, Inc. |
| Type | performing arts center |
| Capacity | Powers Theater: 1,618 Mandeville Hall: 200 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | December 21, 1925 |
| Reopened | 1977 |
The Clemens Center is a cool place in Elmira, New York, where you can watch concerts and plays. It's named after Mark Twain, a famous writer. His real name was Samuel Clemens. He often lived in Elmira when he was writing his amazing books! The Clemens Center also works with local schools. They help students see live shows through a program called the Mary Tripp Marks School-Time Series. This lets kids experience the magic of live theater.
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What Happens at the Clemens Center?
Each year, over 100,000 people from the Twin Tiers area visit the Clemens Center. They come to enjoy more than 100 professional and community performances. The center is managed by a group of Trustees. Also, over 200 volunteers help out a lot! They spend nearly 10,000 hours each year working. These amazing volunteers help as ushers, sell snacks, take tickets, and greet visitors.
A Home for Music
The Clemens Center is also the main home for the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. This orchestra performs most of its concerts right here.
The History of the Clemens Center
The main part of the Clemens Center is the Powers Theater. It first opened on December 21, 1925. Back then, it was a huge theater with 2,500 seats. People came to watch vaudeville shows and silent films. It was known as the "largest and most magnificent theater" between New York City and Buffalo, New York. The theater had a special Marr and Colton theater organ. It also featured beautiful murals, fancy opera boxes, and sparkling chandeliers.
Facing Challenges: Floods and Saving the Theater
In 1946, the Chemung River flooded, causing a lot of damage to the theater. Then, in 1972, another big flood happened after Hurricane Agnes. This flood caused even more damage to the area. After this, some people wanted to tear down the theater to build a new highway.
But a group of citizens didn't want that to happen! They formed the Clemens Center organization in 1975. Their goal was to raise money to save and protect the theater. This group worked hard and raised $750,000! Thanks to them, the theater was saved.
Reopening and New Additions
The theater reopened its doors in the fall of 1977. The money raised helped make some important changes. The theater's seating was reduced by almost 600 seats. This made the space more comfortable. They also updated the stage lighting and sound systems.
In 1987, a new space was added called Mandeville Hall. This hall is 2,500 square feet. It's a flexible "black box" space. It's perfect for smaller plays, music recitals, community events, and lectures.
Modern Updates and Community Support
In 1995, a plan was created to keep improving the center. The first part of this plan finished in 1999. It included making the lobby bigger and better. They added new restrooms, an elevator, snack areas, and a coat check. The second part of the plan was completed in 2008. This phase focused on restoring and expanding the Powers Theater even more.
The Clemens Center also helps other local performing arts groups. It leases space to them, giving them a place to perform and grow.
