|
Vermilion Heritage Foundation P.O. Box 926 Danville, IL 61834-0926 (217)446-9636 fischer@cooketech.net
|
Fischer Theatre
Danville, Illinois
League of Historic American Theatres
Peer Advisory Review
Killis Almond, FAIA, RID
Killis Almond & Associates
342 Wilkens
San Antonio, Texas 78210
October 18, 2004
Fischer Theatre
League of Historic American Theatres
Peer Advisory Review Program
THIS REPORT HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR THE LEAGUE OF HISTORIC AMERICAN
THEATRES AND IS OFFERED AS A BENEFIT OF THEATRE MEMBERSHIP TO THE
LEAGUE. THE FISCHER THEATRE REQUESTED REVIEW BY A PEER CONSULTANT
TO REVIEW THEIR PAST AND PRESENT OPERATIONS, ARCHITECTURE AND
PLANNING PROCESS. THIS REPORT IS THE CULMINATION OF A SITE VISIT MADE
ON OCTOBER 10-12, 2004, AND IT INCLUDES A REVIEW OF EXTENSIVE
DOCUMENTATION PREPARED BY THE FISCHER THEATRE AND REVIEWED BY THE
CONSULTANTS.
PROJECT: Fischer Theatre, Danville, Illinois
DATE: October 18, 2004
CONTACT PERSON: Mr. Henry Norris
Vermilion Heritage Foundation
7 East North Street
Danville, Illinois 61832
PRESENT USE: The building has been used sporadically over the past 18 months
including two produced programs that were presented by the
Vermilion Heritage Foundation.
VISITING PROFESSIONAL:
Killis Almond, FAIA, RID
342 Wilkens
San Antonio, Texas 78210
SPECIFIC PROBLEMS ADDRESSED
The Consultant was asked to review the history of the Fischer
Theatre and its organizational structure and operation over the last 20 years.
In addition, the building was evaluated in a walk-through with the Owners and
the Consultant with a discussion of the current condition of the building was
part of this review. This Report is intended to analyze the approach and
potential of the Fischer Theatre and how the reuse of the building should be
planned. Part of this Report includes an initial budgetary review including
estimation of development of proper planning and documentation for the reuse of
the building.
INTRODUCTION
The Fischer Theatre dates to 1884 as an Opera House for
Danville, Illinois. Danville emerged in the early 20th century as a major
industrial and shipping area in Central Western Illinois. The building was
greatly altered in a major, structure rehabilitation in the 1920’s, which
included the installation of a raked concrete floor. Other changed elements
included the following: alterations to the basement structural system, fly
house, and projection rooms, and the addition of a new structure which was a
four-story, prairie influence commercial building with retail and theater
entrance on the first floor, offices on second floor, and offices and apartments
on the upper two floors. The upper floor uses have changed several times over
the years of occupancy. In the last 20 years, the Vermilion Heritage Foundation
has raised approximately $800,000. This money was originally placed in an
interest-bearing account to be used as a future endowment for operations.
However, funding plans for the building was altered with economic problems in
the State of Illinois.
The raised funds have been carefully used to waterproof the
exterior including two new roofing systems and the replacement of exterior
windows, but major maintenance is still needed throughout the entire building.
The current seating system was installed using salvaged seats from a local
school auditorium, and currently accommodates approximately 250 patrons.
PEER ADVISORY REVIEW
The Consultant reviewed an extensive amount of information
provided by the Owner; he met with the Board for a breakfast meeting and an
update on October 11. Several Board members including Hank Norris and Carol
Nichols remained at the building throughout the day touring the structure and
reviewing the current situation of the Vermilion Heritage Foundation. A Board
meeting was held that evening, and the Consultant made preliminary
recommendations for Board approval prior to a public meeting and presentation
scheduled for breakfast on October 12.
The presentation was approved by the Board members present,
and the Consultant made the presentation to invited citizens and past supporters
of the Fischer Theatre. The remainder of this report is a summary of the
presentation made to the public which was made in private to the Board.
PRESENTATION SUMMARY
There are several items which are positive about the Fischer Theatre. Over the
last 20 years, the past Board has preserved the building from demolition and has
stabilized the exterior to protect it from any further damage. The building is
in substantially better condition than many structures on which the Consultant
has worked in the past.
An amazing amount of original plaster is still in situ and loose plaster has
been carefully removed and stored for future reinstallation. While there are
some severe structural problems related to the balconies on house right, all of
the structural trusses in the attic have been extensively repaired and
reinforced in the last re-roofing project. The attic area was inspected and was
found to be in extremely good condition, well structured and will last
indefinitely if water is kept from
penetrating the roofing material.
ACOUSTICS
It is obvious that the Fischer Theatre was originally designed as an Opera
House. The cubicle space of the auditorium along with the reflector panels
around the proscenium arch are indicative of a high-quality acoustical space
designed for the performance of music and song. A large organ was installed
during the 1920 rehabilitation, and a replacement organ has been purchased for
installation in the old organ loft. There is no question that the Fischer
Theatre is a nationally significant structure for two reasons: its interior
design and detail, and (2) its excellent early 20th century prairie-style
commercial structure which was added to the front.
The stage is a good size and the house appears to seat somewhere between 850 and
900 seats. Modifications were made to the auditorium to allow cinema projection
in the 1920’s.
Compared to other facilities throughout the United States, the Fischer
Theatre would rank very high. Acoustically, it is on par with the Grand 1894
Opera House in Galveston, Texas. The economic environment for Danville is
substantially better than the areas around Tiffin, Ohio (Ritz Theatre).
It is the Consultant’s opinion that the Fischer Theatre is
the only opportunity for the Danville region to have an extremely high-quality
performing arts space with acoustical properties that are not duplicated
anywhere in the surrounding 50-mile radius.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Consultant stressed that the rehabilitation of an
historic theatre is an amazing economic tool for downtown redevelopment.
Danville is a Main Street city and many of the downtown buildings are slowly
being revitalized into adaptive reuses with rehabilitated storefronts. There is
a tradition of substantial use of sculpture in Danville, and due to the
extensive community expansion in the early 20th century; there are an amazing
number of historic buildings both commercial and
residential. Some excellent industrial buildings were also noted; these could be
revitalized to meet industry needs or converted for loft or residential space.
The arts are an industry and, as such produces education and magic. This type of
industry also generates an amazing turnover in any community. Because the
Consultant has been involved in the preservation of historic theatres for 24
years, he has been able to see the type of redevelopment which has occurred and
centered round the rehabilitation and use of historic theatres. In some cases,
the turnover of expenditures for the arts has been estimated as an 8 x
multiplier. Assuming a moderate amount of economic development in the Fischer
Theatre, it could generate millions of dollars for the community as a whole.
These structures have been redevelopment engines throughout the United States
and Canada and have brought about the rebirth of many downtown communities.
REFOCUSING THE FISCHER THEATRE PROJECT
“We are going to rehabilitate this building to do what”? This
what is “WHAT” we are addressing in this Report. The arts are the force that
drives the Fischer Theatre. The theatre is very much like a beautiful fruit
bowl. It may be beautifully decorated, but people return over and over again to
enjoy the fruit in the bowl. As a restored museum, the Fischer Theatre will not
generate any economic development in the Danville region and, therefore, a
refocus must be made toward the
establishment of a business which will present and produce art in the region.
There are individuals in Danville who will drive to Indianapolis or Chicago,
spent $50 each on dinner, pay $80 each to attend a show, spend another $200 for
hotel room and breakfast. These patrons return to Danville and tell all of their
friends about the great time that they had. There is leakage from the Danville
community in terms of economic development. The leakage in terms of the arts is
probably closer to a hemorrhage.
It has been proven over and over again that art is not a
competition. If it was, Cleveland’s Playhouse Square would never have worked.
Art generates more art. The better the structure is that houses the art, the
higher quality the art. Again, using the fruit bowl analogy, the quality of live
performance presented in the Fischer Theatre will far exceed any other
presentation venue in the region. For example, when Larry Gatlin came to the
Opera House in Galveston, Larry Gatlin stated during sound check that the Opera
House was the type of venue he always wished for his group to perform. He stated
that he would return with his brothers to show them and give them the same
experience that he was having in an Opera House - and he did just that. While
the fruit bowl analogy works in holding the fruit, there is no question that a
beautiful bowl makes the fruit taste better.
The leakage issue was addressed in the presentation. The
highway out of Danville also runs into Danville. High-quality art in the
Danville region would generate people traveling to Danville from as far away as
Chicago to enjoy the art that could be presented in this community. There is a
tremendous art tradition in this region. As previously mentioned, sculpture and
the visual arts are strong. The architectural environment of the community is
excellent. The Danville symphony us a professionally paid group who brings in
high-quality performers. The symphony would love to have a home in the Fischer
Theatre. Other arts groups in the region could rent the Fischer Theatre for fund
raising when greater seating capacity was needed. A presentation of a performing
arts series and a children’s entertainment
series could be presented for the community. While some of these items are
currently offered in the Danville region, the potential for expansion of the
arts in these areas are tremendous.
RECOMMENDATIONS
While the intentions of the Vermilion Heritage Foundation
were good and the original economic funding plan was excellent, when that plan
failed, the Fischer Theatre essentially stopped its redevelopment. Because of
the long history of the Vermilion Heritage Foundation and its association with
the Fischer Theatre, the Consultant feels that a new arts organization needs to
be developed to focus on art in the community that will eventually take plan in
the Fischer Theatre. The Fischer Theatre should be the home of major arts
entities in the Danville region, and the symphony should be part of the Fischer
Theatre. The new arts organization should work closely with all the arts
organizations in the region to develop new art presentations and venues that
affect the community whether that be in the Fischer Theatre or in other spaces.
Currently, the Fischer Theatre is usable because the City of Danville has made a
commitment to keeping the project alive. It is operable because in the last two
years, a rejuvenated Board has made it a personal goal to keep the building
alive. However, it cannot continue the current operation because there are no
funds available for utilities much less rehabilitation.
THE NEW ORGANIZATION
The new organization should be named to reflect the art and
the groups which may inhabit the Fischer Theatre. It should be professionally
run and it should have sufficient funds to begin the process of planning for the
rebirth of the Fischer Theatre. There is a distinct process which can almost
assure success if followed. Over the last 25 years, the Consultant has seen the
process included the following steps:
1. Strategic planning, research and goal setting.
2. Professional consultants designed to establish the business operation
parameters of the building and create programming.
3. Financial planning.
4. Concept drawings and goal setting.
5. Establishing appropriate committees from an expanded Board.
6. Modified project goals and operating structures.
7. Developing comprehensive terms of reference for staffing and consultants.
8. Creating an action plan for the project with a step-by-step process for
development parallel with cost flow projections and funding counsel
recommendations on fund raising.
9. Contracting project consultants to complete the project.
10. Building design development specification and bidding.
11. Financial replanning, fund raising, marketing and programming of operations
paralleling construction.
12. Opening night.
This process has been used throughout the United States on
hundreds of historic theatres which have been converted into performing arts
centers. The League of Historic American Theatres is dedicated to assisting
emerging theatres using this process and to the use of historic theatres. That
use means occupying the theatre two, three or four hundred times a year and
creating new economic development in the community. Art can educate - art can
change people’s lives - and art can change a community forever.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The existing Vermilion Heritage Foundation must perform the
unselfish act of developing and turning the Fischer Theatre project over to a
new Board. The Consultant feels strongly that the 20-year association of the
Foundation with the Fischer Theatre must be severed. A non-profit Board
basically has two major objectives:
• Set policy.
• Raise funds.
The Board should bring in qualified consultants who first
lead them through the initial planning steps. Hiring the Architect is not the
first step in the process. Contrary to what many organizations believe, the
initial planning is the highest priority in theatre restoration. This includes
the establishment of a vision and understanding the type of business that must
be created to operate the theatre and raise funds to accomplish that vision. The
business plan is what dictates the program and the Architect cannot work without
a program. It is been proven repeatedly throughout the United States that the
money follows the vision. Establishing an organization with a clear vision of
where they want to build the art in their community and what they want the art
to do for their community is absolutely critical.
I firmly believe that a new Board dedicated to the
business of theatre arts and of eventually placing those theatre’s arts in the
finest theatrical venue in the Danville region can and will be successful.
Ultimately, the community, the parents, the friends and the people who truly
feel that art in the Danville region cannot exist without a refurbished Fischer
Theatre will raise the money to complete the project. The fruit bowl will again
be beautiful, but more than that, it will function at a level unknown in any
regional venue currently existing. It will be the home of multiple organizations
and there will be an economic engine that will rebirth Danville as other
communities
throughout the United States have been revitalized.
Submitted by,
Killis Almond, FAIA, RID