Dear Gentle Reader: when last you heard about the Balcony, we were in the process of ripping down the old balcony railings, which as anyone who has sat in the balcony knows, often got in the way of seeing the front of the stage. When the old facade was ripped down, all that was left was a flat, wooden front.

This week, the crews have started rebuilding the front of the balcony.  First was to install ductwork and insulation on the side balconies.

Next, the framing for a new facade was built.  Note that the new balcony facade will “drop off” much quicker than the old facade, dramatically improving sightlines for those sitting near the front of the balcony.

Another big difference when the renovation is done is that the center balcony won’t have a protruding facade at all.  As you can see here, the side balconies are framed out, but the center balcony will be left flat except for a decorative finish that will absorb sound.  This will improve sound quality in the Theater by eliminating the reflection of sound from the stage.