Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts facts for kids
South (front) elevation, 2009
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| Address | 60 Manor Ave. Annandale-on-Hudson, New York United States |
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| Coordinates | 42°01′52.81″N 073°54′09.55″W / 42.0313361°N 73.9026528°W |
| Owner | Bard College |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | Sosnoff Theater: 900 LUMA Theater: Adjustable |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 2003 |
| Architect | Frank Gehry |
| Structural engineer | DeSimone Consulting Engineers Cosentini Associates |
| Main contractors | Daniel O'Connell's Sons |
The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts is a special building at Bard College. It is located in a small town called Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, in the Hudson Valley. This center is a place where people can enjoy many different kinds of shows.
You can see amazing performances here. These include orchestral music, jazz, theater plays, dance shows, and even opera. A very famous architect named Frank Gehry designed this building. It is about 110,000 square feet in size. The center has two main theaters and four studios for practicing dance, theater, and music.
One cool thing about the Fisher Center is how it gets its power. Its heating and air conditioning systems use energy from the Earth. This is called geothermal power. It means the building does not use fossil fuels for its regular operations. The center opened in April 2003. Some people even say it might be the best small concert hall in the United States!
Contents
Inside the Fisher Center
The Fisher Center has two main performance spaces. Each one is designed for different types of shows.
The Sosnoff Theater
The Sosnoff Theater is a large and cozy theater. It can seat up to 900 people. It has a main floor, a lower section called the parterre, and two balcony levels. This theater is perfect for operas because it has a special pit for the orchestra.
The sound in the Sosnoff Theater is amazing. It was designed by Yasuhisa Toyota, an expert in acoustics. There is also a special acoustic shell. This shell can change the theater into a concert hall. This makes it great for both small and large music performances.
The LUMA Theater
The LUMA Theater is smaller than the Sosnoff. It can hold about 200 people. This theater is very flexible. Its stage and seating can be changed for different kinds of shows. During the school year, Bard College uses the LUMA Theater for its theater and dance classes.
Festivals and Programs
The Fisher Center is also home to some exciting events.
Bard Music Festival
The center hosts the Bard Music Festival. This festival brings performers from all over the world. They come to perform during a summer event called Bard SummerScape. This festival includes opera, theater, and dance.
During the school year, the Fisher Center is mostly used for teaching and college events. But in the summer, it opens its doors to the public. It becomes a place for everyone to enjoy performances. It also hosts special programs for college students who are studying the arts.
People and Connections
- Richard B. Fisher: The center is named after him. He was a very important person at Bard College.
- Leon Botstein: He is the President of Bard College.
- Gideon Lester: He is the Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the Fisher Center.
More Places to Explore
- List of works by Frank Gehry
- Walt Disney Concert Hall
- List of concert halls
- Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
