As Posted in The Manning Times Times Publishing, Inc. ©2007 Times Publishing, Inc. 11/26/09 Makin’ Progress Weldon Auditorium expansion well underway By Cathy Gilbert The expansion of the Grand Atrium Lobby and two “will-call” ticket booths is starting to take shape at the Weldon Auditorium project. Current construction schedules call for the facility to be completed in late 2010 or early 2011. Photo submitted by Doug Hontz The expansion of the Grand Atrium Lobby and two “will-call” ticket booths is starting to take shape at the Weldon Auditorium project. Current construction schedules call for the facility to be completed in late 2010 or early 2011. For the past year, it has been hard to see the progress being made in the rebirth of Weldon Auditorium. If you have not participated in one of the few public events that allowed the public to come inside and take a peek, you will certainly be astounded by the transformation going on there. But recently, that progress has had an outside face as well. “It is so exciting driving by Weldon Auditorium these days,” said Get Weldon Going Chair Marie Land. “Construction has been underway for over a year, but it has all been inside. Today when you drive by you can actually see that something wonderful is about to come to the county!” What you can now see when driving by the stately structure on North Brooks Street is the construction of the Grand Atrium Lobby and two “will-call” ticket booths where patrons can pick up or purchase tickets. According to Land, exciting work is also on the brink for inside the auditorium. “Sometime in December the seats will be removed from the auditorium floor,” she explained. “The seats will travel to North Carolina where they will be reassembled into wider, upholstered seats using the original cast iron standards and hard maple arm rests. The original aisle end panels will be powder coated in a color similar to the walls and reattached to the new seating.” Additionally, while the seats are away to be refurbished, the concrete floor will be stained, the auditorium catwalk will be installed and the carpeting will be laid in the aisles and across the front and back of the auditorium, she explained. A huge public interest survey effort has also been taking place since this summer, according to Sandi Tucker, also a Get Weldon Going committee member. “These surveys have been distributed throughout the county,” Tucker said. “We asked citizens what they wanted to see taking place in the county’s new cultural arts venue. Surveys are still available at the Chamber and we encourage everyone to fill one out. This is how we will determine what types of performances to book when the auditorium is completed, hopefully at the end of 2010 or early 2011. “The most important thing to remember about Weldon Auditorium and the Clarendon Community Complex is that the facility belongs to every citizen in Clarendon County,” Tucker added. “This is not a Manning facility; it is for the entire county.” Tucker said that the December meeting of the Clarendon County Council will take place at Clarendon Community Complex and will feature “Supper on the Stage” for the Council followed by tours of Weldon. The Council meeting will be held in the Breedin Garden Room, also a part of the Clarendon Community Complex. Land and Tucker both said that they hoped the Weldon Auditorium would prove to be a huge asset to the county’s three school districts, the Phoenix Charter High School and two private schools. “Over the past few weeks every school in the county has been visited,” Tucker said. “The goal of these visits is to bring information about Weldon to all three school districts and, the private schools and the charter school. Weldon Auditorium and the entire complex belong to the citizens of Clarendon County.” “I have such fond memories of school children going to Weldon for the ballet, plays, puppet shows and other performances,” Land added. “The county’s children are our most important resource.” According to Tucker, the schools would like to see their students take part in plays, concerts, spelling bees and other competitions, dance recitals, beauty pageants, movies and art shows. All of the touring performances being considered will do community and educational outreach programs. Clarendon’s children will be able to get up close and personal with actors, musicians, magicians and singers. With the beautiful exhibit space that is part of the Weldon Auditorium, children from each school will be invited to create and exhibit their artwork in a professional setting in the Weldon Art Corridor. “We also hope to be able to encourage students from every school to create and stage their own productions from plays to concerts,” Land said. Adult citizens will have the opportunity to attend touring Broadway productions and concerts as well as attend regular “Family Movies Nights,” bringing entertainment for all ages to the Weldon’s “Big Screen.” “Every other month will be Classic Movies Night where adults can view some of the great films from the past,” Tucker noted. “The surveys also showed a great interest in gospel choirs performing on the Weldon stage. And we are keeping our fingers crossed that we can get the Back Porch Players (a county theatrical troupe) reunited as well as a rebirth of the Puddin’ Swamp Singers.” Take time to drive by Weldon Auditorium construction site and let your imagination fly with all the possibilities in store for Clarendon County. “Weldon is scheduled to open in late 2010 or early 2011 with a Grand Opening Gala that will offer something amazing for all of us,” Land said.