January 17, 2007

Tracy Cultural Arts Announces Delay in Theatre Opening

Upgrade to Automated Rigging System Approved

Tracy, Calif. - City of Tracy Cultural Arts Division has announced that the opening of the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts has been delayed until September, 2007. The Center, located on Central Avenue between Seventh and Eighth Streets, was originally scheduled for opening in June of this year. When completed, the facility will house a 560-seat theatre, a small "studio box" theatre, an art gallery , dance studios and classrooms for City-sponsored art and music classes.

The reason for the delay is a construction change in the rigging system, from the originally-proposed, "double-purchase" counter weight rigging system to automated rigging. The automated rigging has 28 linesets (bars) from which lights and draperies are hung. Hanging from the battons, along with any additional scenery, will be the main drape, the fire curtain, legs and borders, the projection screen and the backdrop.

"Though we regret delaying the opening of the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, the long-term benefits of upgrading to an automated system now will far outweigh the disappointment of an unanticipated two-month delay," says Theresa Yvonne, manager of City of Tracy's arts program. "Here are a few reasons why:

• The Grand Theatre has no off-stage area, so all elements of set and scenery must be put in place from overhead.
• The originally-planned system requires a minimum of two stagehands to operate the simplest of scenery.
• Community groups will need only one stagehand to operate the automated system where they would need as many as four stagehands otherwise
• Automated rigging will be safer for children's shows on stage.
• The automated rigging system will also enable the facility to teach advanced courses in technical theatre that will qualify students to work at other facilities such as the Wells Fargo Pavilion in Sacramento and across the country.

"Unlike other components of the facility, the rigging system cannot be upgraded or retrofitted at a later date, Ms. Yvonne adds. "The cost is not additional as the funds for automated rigging will come from contingency funds already allocated to the project. We know that the allocation of $365,000 to upgrade the rigging system will pay for itself in labor savings alone by year seven of the life of the building."

Total cost for the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts project is $18 million, which includes acquisition of the city block. Construction cost $12.2 million. The funding for the project came from redevelopment funds. None of the money for the CIP (Capital Improvement Project) coming from the general fund.