I Survived the Pit!

Members of the Building Committee celebrate the completion of the orchestra pit with 'I Survived the Pit' teeshirts. (L to R: Joel Fedder, Chair - Building Committee, Robert Diamant, Joan Wood, Chair - Sarasota Opera Board of Trustees, and Scott Bushey)

This will be the final renovation post for a few weeks. check back in April for photos of the final month of construction, the completed Opera House, and for pictures from the March 1st grand Re-Opening.

Thank you to all who have taken part in making this dream a reality!

Orchestra Pit Lift

The crew from Gala Systems out of Quebec begins installing the motors for the pit lift. At its lowest position, the lift will create a level playing area for the orchestra. When raised, it will extend the front of the stage.

Decorative Painting

Members of the decorative painting crew begin work on the walls and ceilings in the lobby.

Hammering

Robin Cote, field superintendent for Willis A. Smith Construction, does some touch up to the walled over construction entrance onto stage.



One of the construction crew works in the new cross under hallway under the stage. The new trap in the center of the stage can be seen above him.

Orchestra Pit

Lead architect Killis Almond (center), makes a first inspection of the new expanded orchestra pit under the stage just after the removal of the temporary struts. With him are representatives from contractor Willis A. Smith Construction and subcontractor Dolphin Innovations.

Fred and Doris Albertelli

Fred and Doris Albertelli take a tour of the theater with Courtney Balok.

Wet Paint

All Steel Crew

The crew from All Steel Construction, who spent months rebuilding the balcony structure, takes a short break from work for a celebratory photo.

Pit and Stage

Lifts work throughout the theater as work begins on the freshly poured stage. Temporary supports for the stage can be seen in the orchestra pit.

Exterior Painting

One of the painting crew carefully re-attaches the 'Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt Courtyard' lettering.

The painting crew does final touch-ups around the Opera House windows.

Welding - Video

Welders work on the stage and the balcony to prepare the new control booth on stage, and the lighting rail on the front of the balcony.

Finishing Touches

One of the construction crew works on staining trim for the third floor Founder's Lounge dinning room.

One of the decorative painters works on an early paint sample on a wall in the lobby.

Lifts in the Theater

Lifts are used in the theater, to plaster, paint, and do electrical work.

Even T. Collinsworth

Longtime Opera supporter Even T. Collinsworth takes a tour of the construction site with Director of Development Melissa Burtless.

Exterior Painting

Various areas of the theater fly tower get a fresh coat of paint.

Shadows

Two construction workers ride a lift on the far side of the theater

Steel Work Above the Stage - Video

Large scaffolding is setup and moved around stage to work on reinforcing the steel structure above the stage. Rigging equipment which is used to life lights and scenery will be mounted off of the steel structure.

Alisa and Ernest Kretzmer

Executive Director Susan Danis finishes a tour of the construction site with patrons Alisa and Ernest Kretzmer.

Atrium

A view up the lobby atrium, which is draped in plastic as painting goes on on the second floor.

Roofing

The crew goes to work putting the new terracotta tiles on the roof of the Opera House.

Open Door

Looking through an open doorway on to the second floor of the Opera House.