Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts facts for kids
View of the marquee from Third St and Western Ave
|
|
| Former names | Michigan Theater |
|---|---|
| Address | 425 West Western Avenue Muskegon, Michigan United States |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 17, 1930 |
| Expanded | 1984 |
| Website | |
| frauenthal.org | |
The Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts is a cool place in downtown Muskegon, Michigan. It's a big building where you can watch live shows! This center includes the Frauenthal Theater, which used to be called the Michigan Theater. It also has other spaces for performances and art.
The Frauenthal Theater first opened its doors in 1930. Back then, it was one of many theaters in downtown Muskegon. Today, it's a very important cultural spot for the city. The Community Foundation for Muskegon County helps manage it.
What's Happening at the Frauenthal?
The Frauenthal Center always has exciting events going on! You can enjoy:
- Live music concerts
- Fun theater plays
- Amazing dance shows
- Movies for everyone
- Hilarious comedy acts
Both local artists and touring performers come here. The West Michigan Symphony Orchestra and the Muskegon Civic Theatre perform their shows here.
Some special yearly events include:
- The Miss Michigan pageant
- The Mona Shores Singing Christmas Tree choir show
The theater also offers free movies every month. Plus, there's an art gallery where you can see cool artworks.
Explore the Frauenthal's Spaces
The Frauenthal Center has different areas for all its shows.
- The main Frauenthal Theater has 1,708 seats. It still has its original Barton pipe organ! This is where most big shows happen.
- The Beardsley Theater is smaller, with 169 seats. It's perfect for plays and talks.
Other parts of the center include:
- A large ballroom
- An art gallery
- Offices
- Meeting rooms
A Look Back: Frauenthal's History
The Frauenthal Theater was built in 1929. It cost about $690,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! It opened on September 17, 1930. The Schlossman Theaters company managed it.
The Muskegon Times newspaper called it "a marble-like monument of grace and beauty." It was also Muskegon's "first 100% talkies" theater. This meant it was built for movies with sound.
The theater originally had beautiful Spanish Renaissance designs. But these were painted over in the 1950s. The Schlossman company later closed down. The Michigan Theater might have been lost, like other theaters in Muskegon.
But then, the Community Foundation for Muskegon County stepped in! They bought the whole block where the theater stood. This was possible thanks to a $1.5 million gift from A. Harold Frauenthal. The theater was then renamed after him.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Frauenthal Theater needed more space. So, an old furniture store next door was turned into part of the center. This new section, called the Hilt Building, opened in 1984. It added the Beardsley Theater and bigger dressing rooms.
Another big renovation started in 1992. The people of Muskegon voted to approve $16 million to help pay for it. This work was finished in 1998. During this time:
- The lighting, sound, and stage equipment were updated.
- The original Spanish Renaissance designs were brought back!
- The lobby was made bigger to connect with the Hilt Building.
