Capital Theater under renovation during 100th year of operation


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SALT LAKE CITY — The Capitol Theater will celebrate its 100th anniversary during 2013, while its primary resident, Ballet West, celebrates its 50th.

Government leaders, philanthropists, the Ballet West team and builders gathered to celebrate a new addition and a renovation Monday.

"We're here today to celebrate renovations to a beloved community landmark," said Salt County Mayor Ben McAdams to a crowd gathered to commemorate the renovations to Capitol Theater.

Those gathered dubbed it a christening, instead of groundbreaking, as the project is already underway. They broke a bottle of champagne over the corner of the building.

"Ballet West's academy, it's school and it's company can all be together here in one facility to create great art," said Ballet West's Artistic Director Adam Sklute.

The $33 million project bears the names of the Quinney and Lawson families — The Jessie Eccles Quinney Ballet Centre and the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre.

Dr. Rick Lawson, the retired dean of St. Mark's Cathedral, was present at the ceremony.


What it's going to do for our community, what it's going to do for our school and what it's going to do for our art's community is amazing.

–Peter Christie


"My mother loved the ballet and opera," Lawson said. "When the opportunity came to attach her name to this great home for the home for the performing arts, our family responded with a resounding 'yes!' ".

Shari Quinney, co-chair of Ballet West's Capital Campaign, described watching video of Ballet West dancers a few days prior and talked of the dancers of the future.

"It's for these exquisite people and the children who have come through the academy, the hundreds that will go through the academy, the ones that will be able to perform on the stage," Quinney said.

The new renovations will lift the the stage floor up four inches to give the audience a better view.

The builders plan to preserve the elegant turn-of-the-century architecture while adding new heating and cooling systems, improving acoustics and refurbishing each seat. The Capitol Theatre's lobby will also double in size. All of it will be completed by December when Ballet West opens the season with its popular performance of "Nutcracker."

Many audience members who have been participated in Ballet West's signature piece and its company are thrilled. Peter Christie, Ballet West's director, said he is excited to see the renovations finished.

"To have this actually, visible in progress is so exciting," Christie said. "What it's going to do for our community, what it's going to do for our school and what it's going to do for our art's community is amazing."

Many remembered Willam Christensen today, the founder of Ballet West. He died in 2001.

The new Dance Centre next to the Capitol will open October 2014.

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