Renaissance Theatre (Mansfield, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ohio Theatre
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Front of the theater after the expansion and makeover in March 2012.
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 138 Park Ave., W., Mansfield, Ohio |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical |
| MPS | Park Avenue West MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83002040 |
| Added to NRHP | May 31, 1983 |
The Renaissance Theatre, also known as the Ohio Theatre, is a beautiful old theater in Mansfield, Ohio. It's a special kind of theater called a "movie palace" because it was built to show movies in a grand way. This theater has 1,402 seats, making it the biggest place for performing arts in North-Central Ohio. It first opened its doors on January 18, 1928, as the Ohio Theatre.
Today, the Renaissance Performing Arts Association runs the theater. They put on about 40 different shows each year. These shows include Broadway-style musicals, classical music concerts, comedy acts, and family-friendly performances. The Renaissance Theatre is also home to the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra and hosts the Miss Ohio Scholarship Pageant. This pageant is the state competition for the Miss America Pageant.
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History of the Renaissance Theatre
The Miss Ohio Pageant played a very important part in saving the Ohio Theatre. It also helped turn it into the Renaissance Theatre we know today. Mansfield first hosted the Miss Ohio Pageant at the Ohio Theatre from 1959 to 1962.
How Miss Ohio Saved the Theater
After Jacquelyn Mayer, Miss Ohio 1963, became Miss America 1963, the pageant moved. It went to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky. In 1975, the pageant came back to Mansfield. It was held at different high school auditoriums for a few years.
In 1980, people decided to show the pageant on TV. The Madison Theatre, where it was being held, was not big enough. It didn't have enough stage space or room backstage. So, the pageant producers convinced the Miss Ohio Board to move the pageant back to the old Ohio Theatre. They cleaned it up for the first TV broadcast. The pageant's return was the first step that led to the theater's full renovation. It also led to its new life as the Renaissance Theatre. The Miss Ohio Scholarship Program has been held at the theater every year since 1980. That's for over 40 years now!
New Name and Renovations
In August 1980, the Ohio Theatre officially became The Renaissance Theatre. In January 1997, its name was shortened to The Renaissance. This happened when it joined with the Mansfield Symphony. On May 31, 1983, The Renaissance was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special building with historical importance. The original building was fully restored in 1985. This big project cost $2.25 million.
Expanding the Theater
In the summer of 2008, construction began to make the Renaissance Theatre bigger. An old building next to the theater was torn down. Construction continued through the next year. The new part of the theater opened in November 2009. However, it stayed closed to the public until January 30, 2010. This was for a special Grand Opening Gala event.
Grammy award winner, Sylvia McNair, performed for guests at the gala. Dinner was held in the new lobby. The new addition brought many improvements. It included an elevator, making the whole theater accessible for people with disabilities. There were also eleven new offices for staff. A permanent music library was added for the Mansfield Symphony. New, larger restrooms were built. There was also a new concession area, two meeting spaces, and a coat check station.
On June 27, 2010, the old marquee was taken down. This sign had been put on the building during the 1984 restoration. It was given to the Mansfield Sailors and Soldiers Museum. It is now on display where the Madison Theatre used to be. A new electronic marquee was installed on the new addition during the 2008 expansion. This new sign took the place of the old one.
See also
- List of concert halls
