Arts center basks in glow of opening and ribbon cutting

DURHAM, Dec 02, 2008 (The Herald-Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- DPAC | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- B.B. King was the first major performer to christen the new Durham Performing Arts Center during his concert Sunday, but when Durham residents years from now write the history of this new venue, they also will take note of Monday's opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Judging from the crowd that showed up for the free, public festivities Monday, the DPAC will be the place to be for some time. The festivities were not advertised to begin until 5:30 p.m., but at 5 p.m., on a breezy, cold day, visitors as well as scheduled performers already were approaching the building. Soon visitors and performers formed a crowd in the center lobby, to get out of the cold.

Then, at 5:50 p.m., director Scott Hill cued the Durham Children's Choir, who performed the first song in what emcee Ira David Wood promised would be an evening of "entertainment everywhere, on every level tonight." Besides the Children's Choir, performers included Chuck Davis and the African American Dance Ensemble, the Durham Senior Divas and Dude cheerleading squad, the John Brown Quintet with vocalist Lois Deloatch, the Pitchforks from Duke University, an ensemble of the Durham Symphony and more.

But before the performances began and the public got to tour the new facility, dedications were in order. As the Children's Choir sang "This Little Light of Mine" and the African American Dance Ensemble led a procession, Jim Goodmon, president of Capitol Broadcasting Co., led the dedication of Jaume Plensa's "light bridge," titled "Sleep No More."

Goodmon, who donated the sculpture to the city, said he had come to know Plensa as an artist and admired his "light bridges" built in other cities and that "it struck me there ought to be one here." Goodman added: "I believe that what goes on in this building, this theater, is so important that I want to turn this light on every time it's running."

Plensa was at the ceremony, and said his sculpture was intended to be a "bridge in vertical that connects Earth with heaven, body and soul." With that, the crowd counted down, lit glow lights that had been distributed and watched as the vertical sculpture was lit for the first time. It will be lit during shows at the theater. Just before the Plensa lighting, the new Diamond View Park also was dedicated with a brief lighting ceremony.

The events moved inside for the ribbon cutting, and visitors, cheered by the Durham Senior Divas, made their way up to the various levels of the theater, where food and refreshments were served, and music could be heard everywhere.

Officials who played a role in construction of the arts center hailed it as a great moment for Durham and downtown. "If you've got a seat here, you've got a great view," said Durham Mayor Bill Bell.

"We have radically transformed the landscape of downtown Durham, " said State Sen. Floyd McKissick, D-Durham. "Each of us brings our unique heritage to this place ...." he added.

Nick Scandalios, executive vice president of the Nederlander Group, which manages the theater, mentioned several new shows his group is working on now -- among them new productions of "West Side Story" and "Hair." After his remarks, Scandalios said it was very likely those productions and others would play in the DPAC some day.

Visitors also basked in the moment. Hill, the Children's Choir director, said she had been in Durham since 1967. "We've been needing this building for a long time," Hill said. "[I'm] excited that my kids have a chance to open it."

Dan Fulkerson of Durham praised the building's architecture. "This is a great focal point for Durham,' he said.

"Just to be here is amazing," said Etheldreda Guion, a member of the Durham Senior Divas." She said she was excited about a facility that can support quality arts programming. "It's like Durham has finally arrived," she said. "So I'm very proud to be a Durhamite."

To see more of The Herald-Sun, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.herald-sun.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index