What progress has been made toward the creation of the Lear Theater?In the last year over half a million dollars has been spent on exterior restoration that includes: new roof, lead paint removal, casting and rebuilding decorative wood moldings, window repairs and new paint. The Lear board and staff have been developing and evaluating various alternatives for the building to solve basement flooding, sightlines, space and programming issues in order to create a venue which addresses the needs of our growing and evolving community. In addition, we have been evaluating and pursuing non-traditional ways to fund the Lear renovation including the sale of the land which the building sits on, thereby unlocking the value of the land and putting it work for us, to help fund the construction and renovation of the Lear Theatre. The staff and board have also pursued and successfully received historical and government grants to support capital and operating costs.
Are Current plans consistent with Moya Lear’s vision for the Church?
All plans maintain the integrity of the architecture and Mrs. Lear’s goals for the community. The adaptive re-use from a Church into a performance venue will require some internal design changes, but the period architecture will be retained. Moya’s ultimate goal was to see performances in the theater and that is our goal as well. Once the Lear Theater opens we need it to be a sustainable organization with a sound business strategy.
When will it be completed?
At this time we are hesitant to place a date on completing the project as there are many different factors involved in completing the theater. The main obstacles are money and selection of the development alternative which best addresses the facility problems to support the programming vision for the Lear Theater.
I heard you were demolishing the building, is this true?
NO, we have never had any intention of demolishing the building. Our goal is to find the best possible way to get the Lear Theater open and then to establish it as an important component in the growth of arts in Northern Nevada.
I read in the paper that you were moving the building, why?
We have not yet made the decision to move the building, however, we are still considereing it. At this time we are working with city officials and contractors to determine a suitable location that will maintain the Lear’s historical integrity and still allow us to maximize programming options. There are several factors driving us to consider moving the building:
1) Flooding in the basement has been a problem in the past and is unavoidable in the future without significant remediation measures. Water seeps up from the ground and restricts usage of the basement. This will negatively affect income generation and the Business Plan..
2) Inadequate raking (slope) of the auditorium floor creates sightline problems resulting in a sub-standard performance venue that will inevitably affect the long term operation of the theater.
3) The sound-on-sound leakage from one space to another inhibits use of more than one space at a time, negatively affecting income generation and the Business Plan.
4) There simply is not enough space in the current facility to house all of the programming that was originally intended for the theater and that is necessary to make this a viable, sustainable operation. This situation is further exacerbated by the inability to use the basement because of flooding.
5) The Lear building sits on valuable land. Moving the building and selling the land it sits on allows us to put the value of the land to work to fund the renovation, opening and operation of the Lear Theater.
What are the advantages to moving the building?
Moving the building and attaching it to a larger theater complex allows the reduction of seating in the Lear building and provides for improved raking of the floor therefore fixing the problem with sightlines and programming. It also eliminates the sound-on-sound and basement flooding problems. The land is a valuable asset, that if sold could bring in enough dollars to nearly complete the restoration of the building and get it open.
(For more information regarding this topic, please refer to Dan Rosenblatt’s article in the Lear Theater News, Spring 2007 edition).
Will the historical aspect of the building be affected?
All plans maintain the integrity of the architecture, even when our designers need to change the functionality of the building into a performance venue. We are monitored by the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the Federal National Park Service (NPS) during all stages of our progress from architectural design to signing off on completed stages of the renovation. The NPS works with the Secretary of Interiors design standards, and both offices have architectural historians that are specialists in their field to ensure we maintain the historical integrity of the Lear Theater.
What is the next step for the Lear Theater?
We now have a sound business plan that includes both a professional theater, a performance venue and, of course, the preservation and renovation of the Lear building. When a development deal is finalized we can then proceed to complete plans based on viable and realistic financing and construction plans and costs. This will allow us to put our capital campaign back into action and raise the remaining funds to open the Lear.
How much money do you still need to raise?
That will be determined by how much we earn in a development deal and what the outcome of our feasibility study tells us. Required funds will be based on specific designs with updated construction costs.
What kind of performances will be offered?
The Lear will house a professional theater company specializing in spoken word performances. Not to compete with the current professional theater in Reno, the Lear hopes to draw from both regional and national talent. The other local arts groups will also be able to use the facilities for their performances, which will leave your options wide open when it comes to theater, dance and music.
How can I contribute to the Lear’s success?
Anyone in the community can become a part of the Lear family and help the theater to succeed. Volunteers will be a necessity as the theater grows, and we will always be in need of donations to help support the growth of the organization.
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