Talk:Angus Bowmer Theatre

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Version of article from main Oregon Shakespeare Festival article[edit]

In April 1968 the Bureau of Business and Economic Research of the University of Oregon reported that OSF had become an important economic engine for Southern Oregon and that thousands of ticket-seekers were being turned away each year. It recommended the addition of an indoor theatre. The city applied to the Economic Development Administration of the Department of Commerce in 1968 for a $1,792,000 project grant centered on a new theatre to be named after Angus Bowmer. The plan also called for a parking lot (which eventually became a parking building), a remodeled administration building and box office, a scene shop and rehearsal area that later would become a third theatre, landscaping, and street realignment. $896,000 was approved in April 1969, to match an equal amount to be raised through private donations. The fund drive exceeded its goal and ground for the new theatre was broken on December 18, 1969. The 600-seat indoor Angus Bowmer Theatre (C) opened just five months later on May 22, 1970 with a production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, selected to recognize the Shakespearean origin of the Festival but also to signal incorporation of modern plays into the OSF repertoire. Reinforcing that message, The Fantastics and You Can’t Take it with You also were presented during that first spring, six-week, season. Although smaller than the Elizabethan, it more than doubled audience capacity by making matinees and an extendded season possible. Fulfilling the original plan, the Bowmer now offers five plays from mid-February till late October each year.

The theatre's design, by Kirk, Wallace and McKinley of Seattle, is basic, functional and innovative. All seats are within 55 feet of the stage, arranged with only two side aisles and wide spaces between rows. Dark colors resist reflection and draw the eye to the stage. The forestage is on a hydraulic lift system that can emulate the thrust stage of the OSF Elizabethan Stage, form a more conventional proscenium front, move below auditorium floor level to form an orchestra pit, or drop two stories for storage of equipment or scenery. The walls of the auditorium can swing in to close down the playing area or open to accommodate larger productions.

Integrate this article into main OSF article?[edit]

I think this section of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival article was moved into a separate article because the OSF article was too long. Since that time the OSF article has been shortened and tightened up considerably. This article needs context that it would have as part of the "Campus" section of the OSF article. Any objection to my incorporating this information into the main article and removing this one as a separate article?JanetFA 02:28, 21 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

{{helpme}} I want to move this article into the Oregon Shakespeare Theatre article in order to provide context, but I can't figure out how to do it, since only administrators can delete an article. Should I redirect from here to the other article? Is there a better way? Can you advise me?

See my answer here. Regards, :) Qst 17:17, 17 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]