Marilyn LaRocque

Fri, May 24, 2002 (9:44 a.m.)

Leaders from the Las Vegas performing arts community put on hard hats Thursday morning and allowed their imaginations to envision exciting production opportunities at the Henderson Promenade and Special Events Plaza, aka the amphitheater, which will be completed this fall.

A $25 million bond approved by Henderson voters in 1997 has given the southeast valley community a vital new image that incorporates not only a performance complex, but a multigenerational center expected to open during the winter, and several new parks.

Sally Ahlstedt, assistant recreation coordinator for Henderson Parks and Recreation Department, arranged Thursday's walk-through. She will be overseeing amphitheater programming. Ahlstedt is enthusiastic.

"This is the first time that the city of Henderson has had a facility specifically designed to produce and present arts programming," Ahlstedt said. "Previously we've had to work with portable stages and a showmobile (a mobile stage unit).

"The amphitheater is surrounded by a very large festival space, which will enable us to host a variety of events either independent of, or in conjunction with, the amphitheater," she said, "and proximity to (Interstate) 215 is another asset."

The plaza is just off the Green Valley Parkway off ramp at I-215, on Paseo Verde Parkway.

It's no wonder Ahlstedt is optimistic. According to project manager Joel Wallis and project engineer Jeff Mills of Clark & Sullivan Constructors Inc. of Las Vegas, the firm that is building the facility, the amphitheater will be both aesthetically pleasing and comfort oriented.

A 40,000-square-foot tension fabric roof structure covers the stage and seating is for 2,500 people, Wallis reported, adding that the seating bowl is defined by customized 25-foot-high brown masonry block walls with gray accents.

"There's usable space of approximately 3,800 square feet of stage area and a large orchestra pit," Wallis said. "It has a traditional proscenium arch, and the stage house is constructed to fly scenery. An adjacent structure houses concessions and ample restrooms."

Annette Mullins, recreation supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Department, extolled the amphitheater's flexibility.

"Presumably we'll be able to function rain or shine," she said. "In addition to the seating under cover, we'll have a sloping lawn accommodating up to 5,000. People will be able to sit up close and personal to get that performance participation feeling or, in good weather, to enjoy the show out under the stars."

Local performing arts representatives said they liked what they saw and are thinking big.

"The Henderson amphitheater fulfills a long-standing dream of mine -- a venue that combines informality and musical productions in a natural setting," Harold Weller, music director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, said.

Referring to Blossom Music Center (summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra), Tanglewood (summer home of the Boston Pops) and Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va., he predicted, "The amphitheater will create an entirely new performance experience for thousands of people. We will finally have a facility here that will be akin to those major music centers. The sky's the limit on the variety of productions that can be housed there, including large productions involving a full symphony orchestra."

Weller said he was also impressed with the economic advantages of the project.

"The combined seating capacity of 7,500 people, under the tent and on the lawn, allows admission prices to cover a greater portion of the costs of performances than a venue with more limited capacity," he said.

Keeping in mind the audience, he added, "It also allows a wide scaling of prices, so people are not priced out of an event."

Harris N. Ferris, executive director of Nevada Ballet Theatre, also paid tribute to the Henderson community and acknowledged the support the ballet receives from that area.

"The city of Henderson has shown tremendous leadership and vision in bringing a cultural facility of this magnitude to life," he said. "We are excited by the potential of this impressive new venue to expand public access to the performing arts in the region. We would hope to be able to present full-length ballets there to reach our expanding audience in the Henderson area."

Architects for the project are Holmes-Sabatini of Las Vegas and AMD Architects of Denver. The Henderson building staff is also closely involved.

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