Dedication for Chevalier’s New Seats Oct. 12
New Seats Part of Extensive Renovations over Past 15 Years
Chevalier’s brand new seats.
What the Chevalier Theatre used to look like not too long ago before extensive renovations. Photo courtesy John Costas.
– Allison Goldsberry
Not too long ago, the Chevalier Theatre sported broken windows and much of its exterior was choked with weeds.
The building has been shut down in 1981 and remained closed for more than ten years until it opened its doors again in 1992.
“It was old, rundown, and it was a mess,” said Chevalier Theatre Commissioner John Costas.
Costas, along with fellow commissioners Dick Ober and Geraldine Grande, have stuck it out with the theatre for over twenty years and it looks like their work is finally starting to pay off.
Since 1992, the theatre has undergone extensive renovations, including two elevators, a new balcony and stairs, refurbished bathrooms and dressing rooms, and stage right wing space.
Next Friday the theatre will dedicate over 1,000 new seats, made possible by money from the city and state grants secured by State Representative Paul Donato.
For Costas and the other theatre commissioners, the October 12 dedication ceremony will also serve as an acknowledgement of the long way the theatre has come over the past fifteen years; from a rundown relic to a source of community pride fit for major shows and performances.
The theatre replaced its old wooden seats with upholstered ones and restored the cast iron art deco ends. There is a smaller number of seats now on the lower level, just over 1,200, because wider aisles had to be created to bring the historic building up to code.
The theater recently opened after being closed for the seat renovations.
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