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Open forum to discuss renovations at Varsity

By Adam Testa, The Southern

Saturday, July 19, 2008 10:24 PM CDT

Varsity discussion

Who: Officials from The Stage Co., Carbondale Community Arts and the Public

What: An open forum discussion about plans for the Varsity Center for the Arts

Where: Carbondale Civic Center

When: 7-9 p.m. Wednesday

CARBONDALE - With renovations underway and on schedule at the historic Varsity Theater, the building's new tenants are now turning their focus to what amenities should be developed inside.

Surveys sent by e-mail and postal mail to various art-based groups in Southern Illinois have provided some response as to what people would like to see in the facility, which should be partially opened in October, and now feedback from the community is being solicited, said Carbondale Community Arts member Gayle Klam.

An open forum meeting Wednesday will provide members of the public to have their voice heard on the ongoing revitalization project at the Varsity, which will become the home of The Stage Co. David Coracy, CCA board president, said the meeting is part of an effort to examine "all the different ways we can make this something the community can be proud of."

"We need to be able to sit down and say, 'This is exactly what the Varsity Center for the Arts needs to be,'" he said. "We just want to make sure as we go forward that we take into account the wants, needs and dreams of everyone involved, including the community."

Klam said Wednesday's meeting will begin with about a half an hour update of the project and where everything stands at this point. Following that, the floor will be opened for public comment and input, and if necessary, attendees will be split into smaller groups each discussing specific aspects of the project.

One of those who will be on hand to present the update will be Jack Langowski, chairman of the Varsity Development Board.

Progress has been steady at the theater, Langowski said Friday. Water and sewer have been installed in a part of the theater that will be used for dressing rooms, an area where those utilities had previously not been available.

Work should be completed next week on installing the light bars that will be used for the stage and on the new heating, ventilation and air condition unit. After these phases of the project, construction will be able to begin on the stage itself, Langowski said.

"I think we're going to make it," he said of the planned October opening.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com

351-5031