At a special meeting held on January 25, the membership of Lakeside Little Theatre (LLT) voted unanimously to approve a plan drawn up by the board of directors to spend up to five million pesos on a comprehensive renovation of the theater.
The extensive plan includes lowering the stage floor, raising the proscenium arch, installing underseat low pressure air conditioning, replacing the seats, installing catwalks for the stage lights, constructing sound and light locks at the entrances to the auditorium, improving the technical facilities, expanding and improving the green room area, reconfiguring access to the terrace, reconfiguring access to the rehearsal hall, refurbishing the washroom facilities, relocating the bar and bar ticket sales area, and constructing a second level above the relocated bar with space for the library and a new office.
“We have a building that is more than 30 years old and there are a lot of deficiencies that need to be corrected” said President Peter Luciano.
Luciano said renowned Canadian theater architect Thom Weeks has generously donated his time and expertise to facilitate the project. “Through his experience we have been able to determine that the building is basically sound and represents an ideal platform for improvements.”
The project has been broken down into logical phases to enable the work to be completed during the summer months when the theater does not normally produce shows. It is anticipated that the entire project will be completed by 2020.
Thanks to prudent fiscal management and pledges of more than 800,000 pesos from 15 members at the meeting, LLT has amassed a capital expenditure fund of just over 2.2 million pesos or 45 percent of the required funding for the renovations.