UPs Largest Performing Arts Center Set to Open
Related Stories HOUGHTON--The Rozsa (pronounced Rose-ay)Center for the Performing Arts,
the largest facility of its type in the Upper Peninsula, will be dedicated
Oct. 5 at Michigan Tech with a keynote address by Dr. William Ivey, chairman
of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Ceremonies dedicating the $20 million structure, which features an 1,100
seat state-of-the-art performance hall, dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms,
and classrooms, are slated to begin at 5:00 p.m.
Special guests besides Ivey who will be speaking at the dedication include
Jim Klungness, chair of the Setting the Stage Campaign; the Honorable
Mark Murray, treasurer of the State of Michigan; Roberta Berg, niece of
James and Margaret Black, after whom the performance hall is named; Robert
Horner, son of Samuel and Grace Horner, after whom the facility's lobby
is named; and Ted and Lola Rozsa, whose major contribution provided the
impetus for the fund raising needed to construct the facility.
The Michigan Tech Concert Choir, Echoes From Heaven Gospel Choir, and
the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra will all perform at the dedication. The
invocation will be given by the Rev. Tom Anderson of Grace United Methodist
Church in Houghton. Following the dedication, a reception will be held
in the lobby of the Center and public tours of the building will be conducted.
Michigan Tech President Curt Tompkins said the Rozsa Center will be
the cultural hub of the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin. "This
beautiful facility is symbolic of the fact that Michigan Tech can do whatever
we have the will to do and that our friends are willing to support our
progress," he said.
Completion of the Rozsa Center marks the realization of a long-time dream
for MTU Fine Arts Department Chair Milt Olsson. "In a nutshell, it improves
the quality of the performance experience tremendously," said Olsson.
"We now have acoustically superb rehearsal space and student practice
rooms, where before we had none. This will bring an improved quality to
all of our performances. Furthermore, we really have one of the top performance
halls in the state."
Besides providing a stellar facility for performers, the Rozsa Center
will enrich the quality of the experience for the audience as well, according
to Olsson. "The new facility gives us the large stage and big orchestra
pit that will allow us to handle everything from musicals to opera and
ballet. It will allow us to do a lot of things we just couldn't do until
now," he said. The Center will also provide a needed boost for the University's
Cultural Enrichment/Great Events program. Currently the series includes
national and international theater and dance companies, chamber orchestras,
and a variety of musical ensembles.
"For many years we've been struggling, using venues that aren't sufficiently
equipped and not altogether appropriate for the performances we've presented,"
said MTU Cultural Enrichment Director Valerie Pegg. "Our series is the
most comprehensive within a 200-mile radius, and yet we've often had to
turn down offers to host traveling companies because we haven't had the
facilities to accommodate them.
The Rozsa Center will allow us to take advantage of such opportunities
and to program events of broader appeal, such as country music, Broadway
musicals, and larger orchestras. "I also look forward to exploring a number
of interesting possibilities in the building for receptions, informances,
and pre- and post-show discussions with the artists."
The official inaugural recital in the Center will be held Friday, Oct.
6, at 8:30 p.m. and will feature pianist James Tocco. The inaugural concert
will be held the following evening, Oct. 7, featuring the Grand Rapids
Symphony Orchestra.
###
09/27/00-MTN367
More
About the Rozsa Center
Party
Time at the Rozsa!