Norshor Theatre Deadline Fast Approaching
Walk Through Theatre Allowed Duluthians To See Progress
DULUTH, Minn- The pressure is on and the excitement is bursting from the supporters, backers, and arts community ready for the Norshor Theatre’s comeback.
Developer and big financial backer George Sherman was at today’s press event among city leaders and the Duluth Playhouse. The transformation and restoration of the historic Norshor Theatre on E Superior St. is looking the clearest it’s looked in well over a decade.
“To walk in and to see what it’s becoming. It’s amazing and I think the city of Duluth and our residents can be really, really proud,” Said Duluth Mayor, Emily Larson
Right now the 1910 theatre may look pretty put together. But that hasn’t been the case by any means throughout the 16 months of construction.
“Definitely a lot more than any of us had expected.”
“The theatre was in a high degree of disarray. I think some of you have seen pictures of the old roof that was up there, the tires, the old carpet,” Rich Kiemen, Sr. VP of construction, Sherman Associates.
“There’s a lot to get done in the next 50 days. We will have the building done by December 30th,”said George Sherman, Sherman Associates.
The dry wall is up but there’s still loads more that needs to happen before this venue is full of guests and performers.
“The seats are coming in December 12th so that gives us about 18 days to install 700 seats. The fixtures are going in the next couple weeks,” Sherman said.
Being that it’s a historical building incentives are on the line, making the deadline worth millions.
“There’s tremendous incentives by the contractor and by everybody to get this done. The historic tax credits require that the building be in place of service by December 30th and we will make that happen,” Sherman said.
The stress doesn’t stop there Mamma Mia will be the Duluth playhouse’s first production on the new stage with only 30 days for the technical crew to get it right.
“It is a tight and ambitious timeline. But we knew that all along so the playhouse has been planning for what we will need to do once the theatre is completed for our move in and to get the production to stage,” said Christine Gradl Seitz, Executive Director, Duluth Playhouse
