Ferguson Center for the Arts facts for kids
| Address | 1 Avenue of the Arts Newport News VA 23606 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°03′40″N 76°29′24″W / 37.061°N 76.490°W |
| Owner | Christopher Newport University |
| Type | Theatre/Concert hall |
| Capacity | 1725 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 2005 |
| Architect | Henry N. Cobb, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners |
The Ferguson Center for the Arts is a modern building for music and theater. It's located on the campus of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. This amazing place opened in September 2005. It has several stages and many rooms for learning about the arts.
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What's Inside the Center?
Inside the Ferguson Center, there are three main stages where performances happen. Each one is special and has a different size.
The Diamonstein Concert Hall
The Diamonstein Concert Hall is the largest and most important theater in the building. It can hold 1,725 people. The hall was designed with amazing acoustics. This means the sound travels so well that a performer on stage can be heard clearly from any seat, even without a microphone!
The Peebles Theater
The Peebles Theater is a medium-sized stage. It has 453 seats, making it a great place for smaller shows and plays.
The Studio Theater
The Studio Theater is the smallest of the three, with 200 seats. This cozy space is perfect for more personal or experimental performances.
More Than Just Theaters
The Ferguson Center is not just for watching shows. It's also a place for learning and creating. The building includes:
- Rehearsal halls where musicians and actors can practice.
- A dance studio with special floors for dancers.
- Workshops to build scenery and make costumes.
- Art studios and galleries to create and display art.
- Music practice rooms for students.
- Classrooms for teaching about the arts.
History of the Center
The land where the center now stands was once the location of Ferguson High School. The name "Ferguson" is important in Newport News. It comes from Homer L. Ferguson, who was the president of the nearby Newport News Shipbuilding company.
A large company called Ferguson Enterprises, which sells plumbing supplies, gave money to help build the arts center. Because of their large donation, the center was named after them.
Building a Place for the Arts
The Ferguson Center was designed by the famous architect Henry N. Cobb. It was built in two main parts, or phases.
Phase One: The First Theaters
The first part of the center was finished in the summer of 2004. This included the Peebles Theater (with 440 seats at the time) and the Studio Theater. The famous singer Tony Bennett performed on the opening night, September 1, 2004. He loved the theater and said, "They don't make theaters like this anymore!"
Phase Two: The Grand Concert Hall
The second phase was completed a year later, in 2005. This added the huge Diamonstein Concert Hall. When people talk about "The Ferguson Center," they are usually thinking of this beautiful concert hall.
The grand opening of the concert hall was on September 12, 2005. Actor and singer Michael Crawford performed with The New York Pops orchestra.
