THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 2, 1997 TAG: 9702020097
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TEPLY, SPECIAL TO THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 30 lines
The Virginia Opera has paid off its share of the $10 million renovation of the Harrison Opera House.
Peter Huber, president of the opera's board of directors and chairman of the Capital Campaign Committee, presented the group's final loan payment to City Councilman Mason C. Andrews on Friday in the facility's Grand Lobby.
The presentation came at a dinner just before the opening-night performance of ``Julius Caesar.''
The project's total cost, more than $10 million, was split by the city and the Virginia Opera, which raised its portion from more than 500 individual and corporate donors.
The fund-raising drive, which began in the late 1980s, was led by a gift of $1 million from Mr. and Mrs. Martin Grass. Mrs. Grass is the daughter of Edythe C. and Stanley L. Harrison, in whose honor the former Center Theater was renamed.
The renovation began in March 1992 and was completed in late 1993.
Keeping the basic structure of the original building, a new exterior was constructed. All of the interior facilities, both on and off stage, were modernized.
Although funded mainly by opera lovers, the renovation does not benefit just them. The Harrison Opera House, now a downtown landmark, is a venue for other organizations, including the Virginia Symphony.