The Chautauqua Amphitheater — the “Amp” — functions as our community’s most important place for assembly around arts, culture, and worship. During the 2016–17 off-season, Chautauqua Institution rebuilt this essential facility, renewing the Amp to meet the community’s needs for the next 100 years.
June 16 2017 Amphitheater Photos (click to enlarge)
The Amphitheater is Chautauqua’s essential place of assembly for arts, culture and worship. Over 140 years, it has been periodically adapted to stand against the wear of time, weather and changing needs.
Goals for this project were:
Safety and accessibility: address structural concerns; meet the needs of those who are differently abled or who have physical limitations.
Audience respect: from poor sightlines to seating discomfort and bowl access, the Amp does not meet the expectations of our audiences.
Artist/presenter respect: the Amp’s backstage and facilities are inadequate for performers and presenters, and the stage/orchestra pit configuration does not support collaborative work.
Institutional sustainability: vitality for Chautauqua is dependent upon its ability to provide an evolving array of programs; financial sustainability requires that we increase seating and standing capacity.
Commitment to history: renewing the Amp shows respect for its history of place and purpose while continuing the historic adaptation of its structure.
Simply stated, an Amphitheater that will meet the community’s needs for the next 100 years.
Objectives
Objectives achieved by the renewed Amphitheater:
Increased functionality
100-musician orchestra pit
Mechanical platform that also can sit flush with floor and stage
Expanded stage
Improved stage lighting
Improved technology systems for sound and projection
Larger storage areas for scenery and equipment
Improved loading dock with stage-level access
Increased audience capacity
Overall capacity increased 13%, to 6,363
Seating capacity increased 8%, to 4,363
Covered seating capacity increased 20%, to 4,363
Standing-room capacity increased 25%, to 2,000
Improved accessibility, safety, comfort and sight lines
100 handicap-accessible seats, with companion seats
Handicap-accessible seating at three levels of seating bowl
Steps, handrails and tread lights on slopes of bowl
Improved and expanded restroom facilities
Ergonomically redesigned wooden benches
50% of roof structure columns removed
Increased rake of floor seating
Modernized and increased functionality of back-of-house
Increased square footage from (21,200 ft.²) for performers, presenters, crews and storage
Expanded, climate-controlled space for libraries of classical and choral music
Improved and expanded dressing rooms and green/multi-purpose room
