Concert hall, former theater and movie theater in St. Louis, Missouri
Powell Hall (formerly known as the St. Louis Theater and Powell Symphony Hall) is the home of the St. Louis Symphony. It was named after Walter S. Powell, a local St. Louis businessman, whose widow donated $1 million towards the purchase and use of this hall by the symphony.[3] The hall seats 2,683.[1]
The building is a contributing property of the Midtown Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. Powell Hall is part of the Grand Center Arts District, St. Louis
History
The building was originally called The St. Louis Theater. It was built in 1925 with 4,100 seats, designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Rapp & Rapp. The theater spent the first 40 years of its existence as a stage for live vaudeville performances as well as motion pictures. The last movie shown in the old theater was The Sound of Music in 1966. At that time, the building was acquired by the Symphony Society for $500,000, through a gift from Oscar Johnson Jr.. After spending an additional $2 million to update and renovate the theater, the hall re-opened in January 1968 as the new home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Carl Stalling, famous for providing the music to Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes animated series, began his musical career as an organist at the St Louis Theater.
2023 renovations and expansions
The St. Louis Symphony announced in January 2023 that Powell Hall will see the start of a major revitalization project in spring 2023, the first since 1968. “We will preserve the history of Powell Hall while creating a state-of-the-art center for community, innovation, and powerful music experiences," SLSO President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard said in a statement. The expansion will include: a 3,660-square-foot Education and Learning Center with rehearsal space and a venue for educational programs, receptions, and community gatherings. A three-story lobby with overlooking terraces and enhanced amenities. Significantly more backstage space for artists, with amenities like dressing rooms, a musician lounge, music library, practice spaces, recording studios, and more. New passenger drop-off locations with more accessible entryways. Outdoor green spaces with areas for audiences to gather. While the venue undergoes construction, the SLSO said it will embrace the opportunity to engage new audiences with musical experiences throughout the community. The majority of performances will be at Stifel Theatre, Lindenwood University's J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts, and UMSL's Touhill Performing Arts Center. The revitalized Powell Hall is scheduled to open in 2025 to coincide with the building's 100th anniversary, according to SLSO.[4]
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