RiverCenter for the Performing Arts facts for kids

The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts is a modern place for shows in Downtown Columbus, Georgia, United States. It's a fun spot where people can enjoy music, plays, and dance.

Discover the RiverCenter's Amazing Spaces

The RiverCenter first opened its doors in 2002. One of its first parts was the Studio Theatre. This is a special "black-box" theater. It can change its shape for different kinds of shows. Up to 250 people can watch a performance here.

The whole building is very large, about 240,000 square feet. Inside, you'll find other cool halls.

Legacy Hall: A Concert Dream

Legacy Hall is a beautiful concert hall. It has 450 seats. The sound in this hall can be changed to fit different types of music. It has a huge, special organ that cost $1,000,000! This organ is called the Jordan concert organ. The stage is big enough for 60 orchestra musicians. It can also fit 80 singers in a choir.

Bill Heard Theatre: The Main Stage

The biggest hall is the Bill Heard Theatre. It has 2,000 seats spread across three levels. These levels are called Orchestra, Mezzanine, and Balcony. There are also special box seats on each level. The stage is 60 feet wide. It has cool, wavy metal ribbons that decorate the space. There's also a special area for the orchestra to play.

Other Cool Spots

The RiverCenter also has an outdoor concert area. There are also practice rooms. These rooms are part of the Schwob School of Music. This music school is a department of Columbus State University.

Who Was Bill Heard?

The Bill Heard Theatre is named after William Heard. He was a very important person who donated money to help build the RiverCenter. William Heard was from Columbus, Georgia.

Awesome Shows and Events

The RiverCenter has hosted many famous people. Musicians, dancers, actors, and comedians have all performed here. Some famous names include Bill Cosby, Stomp, and Miss Saigon. Other great performers were Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and David Copperfield.

Every year, the RiverCenter hosts the Miss Georgia Pageant. It also holds the Ledger-Enquirer's Page One Awards. The Bill Heard Theatre is home to regular shows. These include performances by the Columbus Symphony. The Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus also plays here. And you can see the Columbus Ballet perform too.

The RiverCenter sells tickets through Tickets.com. They have shows happening all year long! Famous radio host Garrison Keillor once said the RiverCenter was "a fabulous new auditorium." He said it was as good as any he had ever played in.

Smart Technology at RiverCenter

The RiverCenter uses some of the best technology. This helps make shows amazing.

Lights, Camera, Action!

In the Bill Heard Theatre, the lighting is controlled by an Ion Lighting console. This is made by a famous company called Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC). The lighting system can handle a lot of power. This means they can create many different lighting effects. In Legacy Hall and the Studio Theatre, lights are controlled by other ETC consoles. Most of the lights themselves are also from ETC.

Great Sound for Every Seat

The sound for shows is mixed on a special console. The sound comes out of Eastern Acoustic Works Speakers. For the Bill Heard Theatre, extra sound equipment helps make the audio perfect. All the halls can record both sound and video.

Adjustable Acoustics

The back walls of the main theater have special curtains. These curtains can move. They help change how sound travels in the room. This makes the sound better for different types of performances. A large, three-piece ceiling also helps with sound. This ceiling is made of mahogany wood. It can be moved using special motors.

Flexible Stage Area

The area where the orchestra plays can also move. It can hold up to 50 musicians. This area can be raised up to the stage level. When it's raised, it can add more seating for the audience. Or it can make the stage bigger.

Fun Facts About RiverCenter

• The movie "The Fighting Temptations" used the Bill Heard Theatre. It was the place where the gospel singing competition happened at the end of the film!

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