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One of the most beloved entertainment venues and a decades-old showcase for rock and contemporary music in New York City, the Beacon Theatre, has announced a six month, $15 million restoration project. The extensive reconditioning project is expected to bring this New York landmark building back to its original 1929 grandeur and solidify the commitment Madison Square Garden Entertainment made  when it acquired the theatre in November, 2006.

In addition to acquiring leading New York Venues, Madison Square Garden Entertainment has also been in the business of restoring the facilities. Radio City Music Hall, another of the company’s properties, was fully restored in 1999. 

“Like our restoration of Radio City Music Hall and our $500 million renovation of Madison Square Garden, our goal with the Beacon is to ensure that the greatest city in the world has the iconic venues it deserves,” said James L. Dolan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cablevision Systems Corporation, parent company of Madison Square Garden Entertainment.

The Beacon Theatre, a 2,800-seat venue located at Broadway and 74th street in Manhattan, was the brainchild of the famed theater impresario Samuel “Roxy” Rothafel. In 1927 noted Architect Walter Ahlschlager was commissioned to design the theater, named the “Roxy’s Midway”, for live vaudeville and silent film presentations. Ahlschlager employed an eclectic mix of styles, including Greek, Roman, Renaissance and Roccoco, in order to provide patrons with a truly unique and exciting experience. Shortly after the theater was completed, it was taken over by Warner Brothers and remodeled to accommodate talking pictures which became all the rage in 1929. It was at this time that the theater was renamed the Warner Brothers Beacon Theatre. 
 

Designated a New York landmark building by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Committee in 1979, the Beacon has become a venerable rock room for generations of New Yorkers and an intimate setting for unforgettable concerts and events.   For the past two decades the Beacon has operated as a successful concert venue, hosting the biggest names in entertainment including the Rolling Stones, Jerry Garcia, Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, and Radiohead. Martin Scorsese’s recent documentary of the Rolling Stones in performance, Shine a Light, was filmed at the venue. For the past several years, the Allman Brothers have played an annual gig of several nights at the Beacon, known by fans and Jam Band aficionados as the 'Beacon Run'. 

“Since acquiring the Beacon, we have upheld our promise to bring more events than ever to the theatre, with an unprecedented 150 events hosted in the 2007 calendar year,” said Jay Marciano, president, MSG Entertainment. “The splendor of the restored Beacon will not only increase fans enjoyment of this unique and intimate room, but also enhance the experience of artists, which will help us continue to grow the business for the benefit of all of New York.”

The Beacon Theatre renovation will focus on all historic interior public spaces of the building, as well as backstage and back-of-house areas.  Bringing back the luster and glamour of an opulent, Jazz Age entertainment venue also requires extensive historic research, as well as detailed on-site examination of original decorative painting techniques that have been covered by layers of paint for many years.  Some of the restoration priorities include: richly detailed Rotunda Lobby, including restoration of the “scagliola” faux marble wainscot and recreation of the long-lost mural over the entrance doors; Historic finishes in the lobbies at each theater level;  Original historic seats and custom, patterned carpet based on the original designs; polychromatic, Moorish-inspired “tent-like” main theater ceiling; All murals throughout theatre to original design; sunburst proscenium valence that runs along perimeter of auditorium ceiling, including renovation of the original back-lit lighting effects; restoration of one-of-a-kind sculptures of animals; masks; urns; statues of Greek martial women, and instruments of war that decorate the sides of the proscenium arch; original ornate lighting fixtures and chandeliers; richly ornate cornices, ceiling molding and paneling, and marble baseboards; decorative elements including pilasters, scrolled brackets and medallions; walls and ceilings to their original glazed finish; Original, thirty foot high Venetian-inspired chandelier and re-activating the original integral lighting effects. Additional theatre improvements include replacing entire stage flooring; upgraded sound system and installation of additional speakers; ugrade concession stands and renovate public restrooms; renovation of all backstage dressing rooms and creating a first-ever star dressing room and Green Room.

“The Beacon Theatre is one of New York’s most enduring landmarks and as we stated when we acquired the Beacon in 2006, we are committed to using our resources to ensure that all of our venues offer music fans the highest quality of entertainment in an unparalleled setting,” added  Dolan. The Beacon Theatre is targeted to re-open in February 2009.