USD Magazine, Fall 1996

J~Ut0 STAGE

1 • Shiley Theatre before renovation.

n preparation for the final 1996 Presidential Debate, Shiley Theatre underwent a $1.2 million renovation. Improvements include air conditioning, sophisticated stage

lighting, plush auditorium seating, carpet– ing and footlighting in the aisles, a new stage curtain, restored ornamentation on the walls and ceiling, and a refinished parquet floor. The 44-year-old facility has been USD's main performance venue since it was built in 1952 inside Camino Hall, one of USD's original buildings. Frank Hope Sr. was the architect. The large imported crystal chan– deliers were a gift from the James Flood estate in San Francisco. The two tapestries hanging on the side walls depict Queen Esther at the court of the Persian King Xerxes and the Child Jesus in the Temple. In 1991, the theater was officially dedi– cated Shiley Theatre in gratitude to Donald and Darlene Shiley for their endowment gift to USD's Master of Fine Arts in Dramatic Arts program, which is conducted in concert with San Diego's Old Globe Theatre, and their commitment to under– graduate theater performance.

3. Workers on the top scaffolding plat– form had a short reach to repair and paint the ceiling.

2. The pews were removed and scaffold– ing went up for repair work and painting.

5. The new stage curtain being installed.

4. Looking out from the theater stage, the refinished floor needed to dry before auditorium seating was installed.

6. Shiley Theatre, refinished and refurbished.

8. The Oct. 16 debate was broadcast worldwide. The debate set was disassembled less than 48 hours after the broadcast ended.

7 • For the debate, 10 rows of seating were removed to accommodate a temporary 38-foot stage extension. Stage lighting went up before the set was built.

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