Lensic Theater facts for kids
The exterior of the pseudo-Moorish, Spanish Renaissance Lensic Theater in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
|
|
| Address | 211 West San Francisco Street Santa Fe, New Mexico United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°41′16.5″N 105°56′28″W / 35.687917°N 105.94111°W |
| Capacity | 821 |
| Current use | performing arts center |
| Construction | |
| Opened | June 24, 1931 |
| Rebuilt | 1999–2001 |
| Architect | Boller Brothers |
The Lensic Theater is a famous building in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It's a large theater with 821 seats. The theater was designed by the Boller Brothers, who were well-known for creating almost one hundred theaters across the western and central United States.
The Lensic Theater opened its doors on June 24, 1931. It was built by Nathan Salmon and E. John Greer. The theater's unique name comes from the first letters of Greer's six grandchildren's names. The building looks special with its "pseudo-Moorish" and "Spanish Renaissance" styles.
Between 1999 and 2001, the Lensic Theater was completely fixed up and made new again. Today, it's a modern place for many different kinds of shows in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico.
A Look Back: Early Years
From the 1930s through the 1960s, the Lensic Theater was a very popular spot in Santa Fe. It showed movies and hosted vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a type of entertainment with many different acts, like comedy, music, and dance.
Many famous stars performed or appeared at the Lensic during these years. Some of these well-known people included Rita Hayworth, Roy Rogers, Judy Garland, Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan, and Yehudi Menuhin. Imagine seeing such big stars right there!
Saving the Theater: Restoration Story
Like many old theaters, the Lensic started to get worn out after many years of use. By the late 1990s, it wasn't used much for live shows because its stage was small and its equipment was old.
But a group of people decided to save it! They formed a non-profit group and worked hard to raise money. Their goal was to bring the Lensic back to life as a top-notch performing arts center.
In December 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation recognized the Lensic. They made it an official project of "Save America's Treasures." This meant the theater was important to American history and culture.
The big restoration project finished in April 2001. A main goal was to make the theater perfect for music and plays. Workers removed the back wall to make the stage much deeper. They also put in new, advanced lighting and sound systems. Every unique detail of the theater's design was carefully fixed. The whole project cost about $9 million.
Today, the Lensic is the main place for performances in Santa Fe. Many groups use it, like the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. It also hosts ballet, lectures, and touring shows. Sometimes, you can even still watch classic movies there!
Theater Specifications
Here are some interesting facts about the Lensic Theater's size:
- Stage Dimensions
- Height: 22 ft (6.7 m) (about 6.7 meters)
- Width: 40 ft (12 m) (about 12.2 meters)
- Depth: Up to 40 ft (12 m) (about 12.2 meters)
- Seating Capacity
- Orchestra level (main floor): 504 seats (maximum)
- Balcony level (upper floor): 317 seats
