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| NewsWednesday, August 15, 2007 9:30 PM CDT |
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Normal summer theater's new home nearly complete
NORMAL -- Bob Aldridge was active in the Normal Parks and Recreation summer theater program throughout high school. The 1977 Normal Community High School graduate became friends with his future wife, the former Suzanne Meek, when the two had roles in "Godspell." The couple went on to get theater degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University and then moved to Champaign. But recently, Aldridge got a chance to play yet another role in the Normal theater program. As executive vice president of the Bloomington-based Felmley Dickerson contracting firm, Aldridge was among the team who helped design the new outdoor theater that will be home to the summer program and a variety of other events. The theater, nestled on a tree-lined knoll north and east of Constitution Trail and just south of the parks and recreation annex at 611 S. Linden St., is expected to be completed by mid-September. Recreation supervisor Colette Farner said the event likely will be marked with an ice cream social and excerpts from this summer's productions, "Little Shop of Horrors" and "The Music Man." "It brought back a lot of fun memories," Aldridge said of the project. "They (the theater program) need a home." Aldridge and others credit long-time program manager and executive producer Connie Link for getting the project done. "Connie Link championed the cause," said Aldridge. Producer Susan Cortesi agreed. "Connie gave her life and blood for it," she said. "I'm so happy she'll see it up. It's one of her life-long goals." Link has been ill. Cortesi said Link started planning for an outdoor theater even before the former venue at Maxwell Park was destroyed by fire in May 2002. "That building needed a lot of work," Cortesi said. The road to the new theater had a few detours. Originally the town planned to build it at One Normal Plaza but bids for the project, which would have required utilities to be extended and a facade that blended in with existing structures, came in $123,000 over budget. Parks and recreation director Garry Little worked with low-bidders Felmley Dickerson to bring the project into reach. They also decided to move it near the parks and recreation annex and the trail. "It feels more intimate than at One Normal Plaza," said Little. "It's by the trail and in amongst the trees." Cortesi said the building is very nice and the audience has an unobstructed view of the stage. The rolling hill in front of the stage has been terraced so the audience can bring blankets and have a seating area. A concrete area on the first level will accommodate those with disabilities. Plantings will screen a nearby parks and recreation outdoor materials storage area. The nearly $300,000 project includes two restrooms for performers, sound equipment, lighting, a staging area and an area on the east side for the orchestra. Summer Theater Supporters contributed about $40,000. "We're going to have a home," said Cortesi. "A place that belongs to the kids of summer theater." Farner said the stage also will be home to the Children's Theater, which currently is at Underwood Park. FYISome audience members may take advantage of Constitution Trail and walk or ride their bicycles to performances or other events at the new outdoor theater. Several parking options will be available for those who drive. • 60 spaces are available in the parks and recreation annex lot at 611 S. Linden St. • The town has an agreement with Village Apartments to use spaces at one of its apartment buildings across from the annex on Linden Street. • Grass parking will be available near the Linden Street entrance to Underwood Park just south of the trail. • Parking will be available at City Hall, 100 E. Phoenix St., with a shuttle service to the outdoor theater site. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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