|
Curtain opens on fully restored historic Asolo Theatre at Ringling
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is opening the curtain on America's only 18th-century Venetian Theater--called a work of art itself--after its being closed to the public for nearly a decade.
The Historic Asolo Theater is once again poised to host a variety of performances and presentations, adding to the Ringling Museum's diverse cultural offerings.
According to the Sarasota Herald Tribune, "The Historic Asolo is often referred to as a jewel-box theater. But audiences have never seen it sparkle as it does now, in freshly painted colors of crimson, gold, silver and mint green.
"During the restoration," the newspaper continues, "Years of grime were cleared from the proscenium arch that frames the stage, and from the 72 painted pine-wood panels that make up the curving interior of the three-tiered, 260-seat theater.
"Hundreds of ornamental pieces that had deteriorated were recast. The ruby-like medallions, the carved smiling suns, wreaths and musical lyres, the vivid paintings of flowers springing out of their carved gold-leaf baskets -- all now clamor for the audience's attention."
"The tremendous work we have completed as a team on the Historic Asolo Theater is a sincere testament to our commitment to preserving art and making it accessible to diverse audiences," said Executive Director Dr. John Wetenhall. "Our hope is that the community will once again embrace the Theater as it did for decades throughout the Museum's history."
The decorative panels of the Theater were created in 1798 in Asolo, Italy, to honor the exiled Queen of Cyprus, Caterina Cornaro, who held court in Asolo from 1489 to 1509. The panels feature a portrait of the Queen, profiles of eight influential Italian authors and poets, and extravagant ornamentation.
The Theater was dismantled in the early 1930s, acquired by German antiquarian, Adolf Loewi, and purchased by the Ringling in 1947. Its presence helped establish Sarasota, Fla., as a cultural center.
In 1958 the Theater moved to its new home off the south-west wing of the Museum of Art and then became the original home of the Asolo Theatre Company as well as the Asolo Opera -- now the Sarasota Opera. As a result of the Theater's immense popularity it could not be closed for lengthy restoration and deterioration began. It was eventually closed to the public in the late 1990s.
The Theater stood un-used until the panels were dismantled once again to undergo complete restoration and reinstallation into the new 21st-century Ringling Visitors Pavilion.
A collaborative team of professionals including conservators, architects, curators, construction experts and senior leaders met the challenge of revitalizing the 18th-century Theater beginning in 2004. The initiative was part of the Ringling Museum $76-million Master Plan.
According to Chief Conservator Michelle Scalera, the essence of the restoration project was to achieve the highest quality preservation respectful of the originality and the future utilization of the functioning theater. "The opportunity to restore such a rare work of art was very rewarding for the entire Museum and Florida State University," Scalera said. "Now that our work is done, we can't help but feel sad to not be working on it daily, but we are also extremely happy that the community will once again have its historic theater to enjoy."
Florida State University's Sally McRorie, dean of the College of Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance, sees multiple areas of delight in the Historic Asolo Theater's completion. "We're thrilled that the Florida State University Conservatory students' first production of the coming season will be in the Historic Asolo Theater, and that we'll be bringing down the Fallon Theatre for Young Audiences production from Tallahassee. Given the history of FSU's School of Theatre in the development of theatre in the Historic Asolo, it's most fitting that these productions will be a part of its new life," McRorie said.
The Theater allows the Museum to expand its menu of educational offerings.
|
AUDIO
