Roof finally keeps rain out – Jackson Clarion

<!–Saxotech Paragraph Count: 16
–>

“We added a padded rubber dance floor to the stage,” Raff said. “It’s primarily for the (IBC), but any dancer will appreciate it.

“Before, they were dancing on cement. I’ve wondered how they could ever do that.”

Orchestra acoustical concert shell walls have been brought in, and the “stage fly system” that flies above the stage was upgraded and repaired.

“One of the biggest things we’ve done is renovate the backstage green room,” Raff said.

The room is a comfort to performers, who now have a well-equipped changing room for theater performers and a ballet floor and pads on which to stretch.

The theater has been dark while the upgrades were made. More are on the agenda.

Nothing will garner more attention than one of three copies of an equestrian statue of King Louis XIV of France.

The two other copies are housed in Louvre in Paris and the Lake of the Swiss Guards in Versailles.

Jackson received the third statue in 1998 when it was made for an exhibit at the Mississippi Arts Pavilion, now Jackson’s Museum of Art.

The statue, which will stand 12 feet, 7 inches high, will be surrounded by plants and benches, Raff said, predicting all will be in place by year’s end.

“We were hosting the exhibit, and they gave it to us,” Raff said.

Other improvements scheduled for fiscal 2011-12 include retrofitting the theater’s interior lighting system, which now is the originally installed lights.

“They don’t even make them like that any more,” Raff said.

Outside balcony railings must be replaced, stage curtains are old and musty, and the dimming system for house and production lighting no longer is dependable.

“These are all considered emergencies,” Raff said. “Not that anyone is in danger, but to have shows, these are musts.”

He said replacing the 20-year-old dimming system alone will cost $200,000.