GRAPHIC: Background photo of empty blue auditorium seats with large white text in the foreground reading "Take Your Seat," with a green drop shadow. Graphic created by The Signal reporter Evan Zieschang. — Take Your Seat fundraising campaign for Bayou Theater renovations. Graphic created by The Signal reporter Evan Zieschang.

UHCL’s Bayou Theater plans new renovation

By Evelyn Alejandro On Feb 5, 2018 149 0

More than 40 years since its last renovation, the UHCL Bayou Theater is being revitalized to better serve the student body as well as become Clear Lake’s premier performing arts center. Alex Malone, managing director of the Bayou Theater, shared how, why and what changes are being implemented to successfully complete this project.

“We’ve done a very good job updating and upgrading infrastructure, but the patron experience has really not been improved; the theater looks the same as it did 40 years ago,” Malone said.

The scope of work for this renovation will include replacing all the seats with chairs that offer more padding and room overall; changing the look and feel of the current theater. The feature additions include changing the entrance to offer a more theatrical feel to help welcome and excite the student body as well as community guests.

GRAPHIC:Visual of what the Bayou Theater exterior will look like upon completion of the redesign. Photo courtesy of Robert Nagle, Theater Supervisor. — Visual of what the Bayou Theater exterior will look like upon completion of the redesign. Photo courtesy of Robert Nagle, Theater Supervisor

The time frame for the renovation project is set to be completed around mid-August to September. In the meantime, Malone plans to allocate funds from donations and sponsorships. The renovation will only take place if the appropriate funds are raised through donations and a new sponsorship initiative called “Take Your Seat.”

The “Take Your Seat” campaign offers local businesses, UHCL alumni and other individual sponsors the chance to be honored long-term by having their name engraved on an arm of one of the chairs in the theater. Malone said local businesses are encouraged to use this opportunity as an advertisement as it has the ability to appeal to the many university students and other community guests on campus for years to come.

As of Jan. 25, there have been 10 to 12 donations and “Take a Seat” inscription purchases made already.

“I would love to continue to bring student and faculty work into the Bayou Theater,” Malone said. “In April of this year, we will be premiering a new work directed by a UHCL lecturer in communications, Dr. Andrea Baldwin, and featuring students as performers and writers of the work.”

Baldwin, who is active in offered productions held at the Bayou Theater, said she supports anything that might enhance the growth of the theater.

“As we continue to develop and reawaken the performing arts here, things that would accommodate our student and faculty work would be wonderful,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin is busy preparing a new show, “Rememberall,” which is an original, student-written, “Harry Potter” inspired production scheduled to be performed in the Bayou Theater April 19-20.

After the “Take A Seat” campaign, Malone said the next large renovation project will be for dressing rooms and a green room.

GRAPHIC:Visual of what the entrance to the Patrons lobby will look like upon completion of the redesign. Image courtesy of Robert Nagle, Theater Supervisor. — Visual of what the entrance to the Patrons lobby will look like upon completion of the redesign. Image courtesy of Robert Nagle, Theater Supervisor.

“This will greatly increase our ability to present larger shows and larger names,” Malone said.

Malone said it is important for the performers to feel comfortable and in their zone in order to deliver a good performance. The ultimate goal is for both the patron and the performer to enjoy their time at the theater.

Once the theater renovations are complete, Malone said UHCL will see an expansion of the Bayou Theater program, and classroom development projects will take place inside the theater, having it serve as a campus resource as well. Students and faculty will have the opportunity to use the facility for different events and course-related work.

“Students can expect a very exciting opening event to honor the new and improved Bayou Theater around mid-August to September 2018,” Malone said.

Anyone interested should visit the Bayou Theater website or contact Alex Malone at 281-283-2065 for more information on making a donation or purchasing an inscription for a theater seat.