OPINION: Less is Not More for the Alan Harvey Theater
Renovation plans significantly reduce audience capacity.
The bird calling contest. Musicals. Drama. A Capella. Dance. Band and orchestra. Community theater. The Alan Harvey Theater is home to all of these, often with sell-out crowds or standing room only. Which is why I have serious concerns over the proposed renovation of the theater that substantially reduces its capacity and why I believe we need to take an intermission and reconsider what’s being proposed.
Currently the Alan Harvey theater has 500 seats. Yet the proposed renovated theater would have only 365 seats, a decrease of 27% in the theater’s capacity. I’ve never attended a performance at the Alan Harvey Theater where 27% of the seats were empty. There simply won’t be enough room to accommodate parents and friends who want to attend these performances. And there won’t even be enough room for school assemblies, which, according to the design program, require a minimum of 400 seats.
One of the main reasons being given in support the current plan is that Piedmont High School would focus on becoming a performing arts school, and there’s no arguing that the proposed renovations would create a very attractive venue with ancillary spaces, but it’s not the only solution. Why are we considering reducing the size of the theater rather than maintaining its current size or enlarging it? Are we going to be satisfied, after spending at least $14.5 million, that our theater will be 27% smaller than it is now, meaning fewer people will be able to attend those performances? In addition, because of this, box office revenues would plummet because of fewer ticket sales, decreasing revenues unless ticket prices skyrocket.
We all want to support Piedmont High School’s performing arts students. So let’s not short-change them and our community by turning away fans and substantially shrinking audiences by building a theater that is way too small. Think about the effect of removing 135 seats before the upcoming spring drama festival, dance showcase, a capella review, and orchestra and band concerts. The 135 people turned away won’t be happy, and there will be much less applause in the theater.
Other design solutions exist where at least 500 seats can be maintained. Let’s get it right and come back from our intermission with a new approach for renovating the Alan Harvey Theater.Melanie Robertson, AIA, Former Chair of the Piedmont Planning Commission
Editors’ Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Piedmont Civic Association.
Why on earth would this city pay $14.5 million dollars to have a theater renovated to be smaller than it is? This is ludicrous, and like so much in Piedmont, the fine details only emerge when people have become emotionally committed to forging ahead, no matter the consequences. If
there are alternative plans to increase accommodations for guests, they should be explored. Let us not blunder into another Blair Park costly fiasco.
My understanding is that for events that fill the theater, the preference of the theater and music faculty is that one or two more performance could simply be scheduled, so there would be no loss of ticket revenue or cheering fans.
I see nothing sacred about perpetuating the exact same seating capacity. My understanding is that for events that fill the theater, the preference of the theater and music faculty is that one or two more performances simply be scheduled, so there would be no loss of ticket revenue or cheering fans. The teachers and staff who use the theater support the project as designed. San Leandro High, often cited by opponents, has 2700 students and a 552 seat theater. Piedmont High has about 820 students and is proposing a theather that will hold 408 students (including the use of folding chairs on the orchestra pit for assemblies). As with many things, Piedmont’s school programs and facilities compare with those of much larger schools.
Does Millennium HS also use this theater? If so, separate from or jointly with PHS?
Are the MHS population numbers in addition to 820 or subsumed therein?