“The stars may be aligning for an arts renaissance in downtown Lansing, one that includes a new performing arts center,” writes Ken Glickman in Monday’s (12/17) Lansing State Journal (MI). “Three developers are looking at parcels and proposals for downtown projects that could include a performing arts center…. Such a project could cost between $40 million and $50 million…. Bob Trezise, president of Lansing Economic Area Partnership Inc., noted the city has tried twice before to build a PAC…. The Wharton Center on Michigan State University’s campus has … the Pasant Theater with about 550 seats and the Cobb Great Hall, which seats 2,500…. The major tenant for a new performing arts center likely could be the Lansing Symphony Orchestra…. It currently plays in the 2,500-seat Great Hall at Wharton Center…. Mike Brand, executive director of Wharton Center, agreed [that] ‘A 1,000-seat hall is what’s missing in Lansing.’ … Although the orchestra loves playing at Wharton, Courtney Millbrook, LSO’s executive director, said ‘scheduling at Wharton can be challenging.’ … Millbrook is aware that there have been discussions through the years for a new Lansing concert hall. ‘We’ve always talked, but now there’s a momentum.’ ”
Posted December 18, 2018
