Forbes Center Dedication
A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the dedication of the new Forbes Center for the Performing Arts at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia (http://www.jmu.edu).
Forbes Center Dedication, June 4, 2010
Although it’s a bit far afield in both location and genre from my previous musings on visual arts in the Gateway Arts District the occasion was significant to me for several reasons. The various effervescent art forms that comprise live performance are fascinating to me, I think art education needs more support as it becomes undervalued in the current economic climate, and, especially, the Forbes Center happens to be named for sister and her husband.
The Forbes Center is divided into two sections with a total of five venues, as well as classrooms, rehearsal spaces, faculty and staff offices, etc. The Dorothy Thomasson Estes Center for Theatre and Dance has the Proscenium Theatre, the Experimental Black Box Theatre and the Dance Performance Studio Theatre. The Shirley Hanson Roberts Center for Music Performance has the Concert Hall and the Recital Hall.
The dedication began on the lower end of JMU’s Quad (the open area in front of Wilson Hall that is considered the center of the campus) near the end of the pedestrian tunnel under Main Street that allows for easy access to the Center. Apparently the students have dubbed this Quad tunnel the “Quunnel” (which is just my guess as to how it would be spelled).
View of Wilson Hall from the Quunnel
A number of speakers praised the new facilities and described the advantages of having new performance, rehearsal and classroom spaces, and thanked the various donors.
Dr. Marilou Johnson, Associate Dean, and Dr. George E. Sparks, Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Student Speaker
Student Speaker
Speaker
Dr. Linwood Rose, President of JMU
After the (thankfully) brief speeches everyone went through the Quunnel to the front courtyard of the Center for the unveiling of a plaque and the (purple) ribbon-cutting.
Front Courtyard - Plaque Unveiling
The Plaque
Ribbon Cutting - Lois and Bruce Forbes Handle the Scissors
Then we went inside and up to the Grand Lobby, which has beautiful views of Wilson Hall across the Quad, for a tasty, three-course luncheon.
Peggy Vaughan and (my sister!) Lois Forbes
After the meal, along with Bruce and Peggy, I had the pleasure of a tour of the Center given by Dean George Sparks.
The Proscenium Theatre
The Concert Hall
The Experimental Black Box Theatre
The Set Construction Shop
The Dance Performance Studio Theatre
The Recital Hall
What fun! Almost (but only almost) makes me want to go back to school.
A few more views:
Forbes Center Rear Entrance
Larger versions of these and a couple dozen more photos are here at Flickr.
