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Carol
Morsani Hall
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Louise Ferguson Theatre is the second largest
of the five theaters at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. Construction
of this facility commenced in April 1984. Only three years later,
in September of 1987, the center was formally opened with gala performances
by the National
Ballet of Canada, the Florida
Orchestra, and singers of the New
York City Opera. The center, situated on nine acres in downtown
Tampa on the banks of the Hillsborough River, includes Carol
Morsani Hall, Jaeb Studio Theatre, Shimberg Playhouse, and a
large rehearsal hall.
The 1042-seat Louise Ferguson Theatre is inspired
by a traditional Italian horseshoe open house design with two balconies
with tiers of seats stretching along each side of the auditorium.
It can accommodate opera, dance, and drama, as well as chamber music
and film. This theater opened with a six-week pre-Broadway run of
the musical "Teddy and Alice," featuring Len Cariou. Adjustable
acoustical systems in the Hall include acoustical curtains on all
boundary surfaces and an acoustical "wall" (acting as
an orchestra shell) located at the proscenium arch that is deployed
for music performances.
Artec provided Design and Planning services covering
Pre-Design
Phase services, Auditorium
Design, Noise
& Vibration Control and Facility
Planning consulting services for the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. The architect for the Center was
D. Fred Lebensold, ARCOP.
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