Curtain Opens April 4 on the Newly Restored Charity Randall Theatre

Red plush seats, identical to those manufactured for the original Radio City Music Hall, offer “comfort in a facility whose architecturally distinguished features have been rediscovered,” Buck Favorini, chair of Pitt’s Department of Theatre Arts, said of the newly renovated Charity Randall Theatre.

By Sharon S. Blake

Over the past two years, Buck Favorini has been watching the realization of a dream he’s had since 1969, when he first came to the University of Pittsburgh. Favorini, chair of Pitt’s Department of Theatre Arts, says he is “thrilled” to see the Stephen Foster Memorial auditorium emerge from a $2 million renovation project. It reopens April 4th as the Charity Randall Theatre.

Funds for the renovation project were made possible through the Charity Randall Foundation, founded in 1977 following the death of Charity Randall, a devotee of literature, poetry, and the arts. The project marks the first comprehensive reconstruction of the auditorium since it opened in 1937.

Looking at the newly restored plush red seats—478 of them, all identical to those manufactured for the original Radio City Music Hall—and the auditorium’s limestone walls, their beauty now enhanced by soft lighting, Favorini says the audience is sure to appreciate the amenities.

“Audiences will enjoy a new level of comfort in a facility whose architecturally distinguished features have been rediscovered,” said Favorini, who has produced countless performances in the auditorium.

The renovation includes new carpeting, safety lighting, and a chandelier in the lobby that enhances its structural beauty. (See below.)

For students in Pitt’s theater department, there is now what Favorini calls “a state-of-the-art laboratory with which to develop their talents.”

They’ll have a chance to demonstrate that talent with the upcoming production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, performed by the Pitt Repertory Theatre. This inaugural production will preview at 8 p.m. April 2 and 3, before beginning its official run April 4 through April 19.

Dedication festivities on April 4 and 5 include a dinner honoring donors and supporters, a dedication and ribbon cutting, an opening night party, and several events for the public. (See below.)

A permanent plaque honoring contributors to the project will be installed in the theater’s lobby. Randall’s brother, Robert Randall (CAS, ’65), a Randall Foundation trustee, calls the theater “a fitting tribute to a sister, daughter, and aunt who loved the arts and had a passion for life.”

Other donors to the reconstruction project include the Robert P. Randall family, the University of Pittsburgh Office of the Provost, and other local foundations and individuals.

According to Favorini, the new space is “an illustrious addition to the cultural corridor that is Oakland.” He is confident it will attract outside interest as well.

“Our community partners, in a mutually beneficial relationship with the University, will have another spectacular venue for their art,” he said.

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Yvonne Hudson, director of marketing and public relations at Pitt Repertory Theatre and the Department of Theatre Arts, contributed to this article.

Grand Opening Highlights

April 4

8 p.m.—Ribbon-cutting and dedication prior to the opening night performance of Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Following the performance, the audience is invited to join the cast at the Gala Opening Night Party in the Cathedral of Learning Commons Room.

April 5

11 a.m.–noon—Free master class in directing with W. Stephen Coleman, Pitt professor of theatre arts, Henry Heymann Theatre, lower level, Stephen Foster Memorial.

1 p.m. and 3 p.m.—Guided tours of Pitt’s theater facilities: Charity Randall Theatre, the Henry Heymann Theatre, and the Studio Theatre. Tours begin in the Stephen Memorial Theatre lobby.

2 p.m.—A Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare, a 50-minute, free performance appropriate for families, Henry Heymann Theatre, lower level, Stephen Foster Memorial.

8 p.m.—Alumni reunion and party for participants in previous Pitt productions.

For more information or tickets, call 412-624-7529.

Restoration Highlights

• Restoration of the original plush seats, identical to those manufactured by Irvin Seating for the original Radio City Music Hall in New York City

• A “thrust” forestage that extends further into the house

• State-of-the-art stage lighting and lights that highlight the vaulted ceiling

• A new stage rigging system; an intercom system that now includes the theater, dressing rooms, and lobby; and a control booth, offering 100 percent more space

• An ETC Expression 3 computerized lighting control console, capable of 999 channels of control and the operation of color-scrolling equipment, and a Sony DMX-100 digital sound control console with Dolby 5.1 surround sound output, digital equalizers, and digital effects playback