The Modlin Center
By Marshall Ervine, photo by Tim Hanger
Pablo Picasso is quoted as saying that “art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Should you need to remove a little “dust” from your life, the University of Richmond Modlin Center for the Arts may be just the place.
Named for past UR President George Modlin (1946-1971) and opened in 1996, the Modlin Center for the Arts was designed to connect the existing Booker Hall of Music (formerly the Modlin Fine Arts Building) and Keller Hall. The Center’s Collegiate Gothic architectural design is in keeping with original UR architect Ralph Adams Cram’s vision, and the archway above Keller Road provides balance with the archway of North Court. The resulting structure provides a visually spectacular home for state-of-the-art performance facilities, galleries, rehearsal halls, and class rooms.
The Modlin Center is the home to the Department of Theatre and Dance, the Department of Art and Art History, the Alice Jepson Thertre, and the Modlin Center administrative offices. It also is home to the University’s Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art and the Parsons Music Library.
Visitors to the Modlin Center are welcomed by “Bravo”, the 28 foot tall, 5 ton bronze sculpture by John Raimondi. The sculpture depicts a dancer, an opera singer, and a conductor. Details include musical notes and Greek masks of comedy and tragedy placed on the figures. Osher sponsored campus walks and tours often start at the sculpture.
The Booth lobby is the main entrance to the Modlin Center, and it serves as the main gathering space of the performing arts complex. The Center’s box office is located here. Remember that Osher members are eligible for the staff rate on tickets for concerts and theater performances. Be sure to pick up a copy of the 2013-2014 season catalog featuring performances by noted artists as well as outstanding student and faculty productions.
The Alice Jepson Theatre is a flexible state-of-the-art proscenium theater that is designed to provide each patron with an intimate view of the stage. Seating varies from 500 to 575 depending on the production and whether the orchestra pit is used. The theater’s Gothic design featuring tall mahogany windows, arched openings, and elegant stairways make for a very enjoyable visual experience.
The Cousins Studio Theatre is located adjacent to the booth lobby near the Modlin Center box office windows. It is a versatile and intimate venue, seating up to 125 persons, and is used for performances, lectures, student productions, and special events.
The Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art is also located adjacent to the booth lobby. The museum has several rotating exhibits each year, as well as lectures, gallery talks, workshops, and other programs. Upcoming exhibitions include “Jay Bolton: The Jackleg Testament Continues” and “Julius J. Lankes, Survey of an American Artist”, as well as the impressive annual student exhibition. Also, “Notebooks: Prints by Matt Mullican” will be displayed in the Booth lobby. Osher members are always most welcome at the museum.
The Mary Morton Parsons Music Library is located within the arch over Keller Road and can be accessed through the main visitor’s entrance to the Modlin Center (3rd floor). The library contains over 12,000 CDs, 18,000 music scores, and 12,000 books on all subjects musical. The library also contains a video collection which includes opera, musicals, dance and concert performances, and instructional programs. Osher members have privileges at the music library.
The Department of Theatre and Dance has approximately 20 students with majors or minors in theater and dance. Including the University Players, approximately 60-70 students are involved in student productions. These students learn all facets of theater production and gain valuable experience in set design, costume design, makeup, lighting, sound, and directing, as well as on-stage performance. heck your Modlin Center catalog for upcoming student productions.
While not visible to the casual visitor, there is much activity within the “bowels” of the Modlin Center. There is a large scene shop where students learn the necessary skills to design and build stage scenery including the use of hand and air tools, welding, making plaster castings, and painting. The Center has a costume fabrication shop with laundry and dyeing facilities. Storage space for thousands of garments, shoes, and accessories, is located in the area of the old Crenshaw swimming pool (where the tile floor is still visible). The costume shop also provides garments for other production/movie companies. For instance, the pink suit that Mrs. Kennedy wears in the film “Killing Kennedy” and some of the costumes in “Killing Lincoln” were fabricated in the UR costume shop. The shop also provided some of the costumes in “Killing Lincoln”. The Center maintains a large inventory of lights and props including chairs, large furniture, old electronics and almost anything that would be needed for a production. Walking through the props storage areas is much like walking through a well-stocked antique store.
During the academic year, there are lots of wonderful arts-related activities from which to choose—plays, concerts, dance, exhibitions, lectures, so shake off a little of that “dust” of everyday life with a visit. To paraphrase George Zimmer, the recently ousted president of Men’s Warehouse, “You’re going to like the way you feel. I guarantee it!”
Special thanks to Debbie Mullin, Administrative Coordinator, Department of Theatre and Dance, for providing a tour of the Modlin Center for the Arts.