Utica, New York— Residents, professionals, business executives and theatergoers, alike, are invited to see Utica’s famous Stanley Theater as never seen before, at its 85th Anniversary Party, which is being co-sponsored by Meyda Lighting and other companies on the evening of Saturday, November 2.
The Honorary Chair is Max Cohen, Northeast Sales Manager for Meyda Lighting, and Cindy Roefaro is the Chair. Cohen says, “To honor and celebrate this landmark showplace for legendary entertainers, we are inviting the public to experience three floors of entertainment where the dance floors will be rocking, the food and drink are flowing and everyone’s a celebrity.”
“In addition, you will sample the latest creations of our area’s finest chefs and get ready to take the stage,” continued Cohen. “Swing with a big band on the Big Stage, get close with a little lounge groove on the Mezzanine or hit the Dressing Room with your cast and crew. The area’s best DJ will keep the dancing moving throughout the evening.”
Originally built as a “movie palace,” The Stanley opened in the autumn of 1928 with 2,963 seats. Constructed in just 13 months, the theater was designed by the famous architect, Thomas Lamb, who is considered one of the foremost designers of theaters and cinemas in the 20th century. His creations include the Fox Theatre in San Francisco and the Capitol Theatre in New York, both which are not standing today. The Stanley is one of three remaining Lamb theaters including Proctor’s Theatre in Schenectady, NY, and The Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, NY.
Today, The Stanley is host to shows presented by the Broadway Theatre League of Utica, Munson Williams Proctor Great Artists Series, and the Utica Symphony Orchestra, as well as several promoters. Recent acts include: Tony Bennett, Jerry Seinfeld, Jackson Browne, the Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day’s American Idiot, and Shrek: The Musical.
Located in the center of the theater is the world’s largest LED and free-hanging chandelier, which was designed, engineered, manufactured and installed by Meyda Lighting. The Stanley Chandelier is illuminated with 170 energy-saving LEDs in the main body, and 104 candelabra-based LEDs in the bobeches. The illumination of the fixture is equivalent to 720 100-watt incandescent light bulbs, but only uses power equivalent to eleven 100-watt incandescent light bulbs– a 98.5% energy savings. Custom crafted of steel, blown-glass and acrylic, this magnificent fixture is 35 feet in diameter, 17 feet tall, and 7,000 pounds. Hand-finished in Antique Gold and Bronze to complement the theater’s Mexican baroque Moorish theme, eight steel arms were designed with hand-painted Green and White, Red glass-eyed serpents spiraling down. At the tip of each arm is a Red and Blue acrylic bobeche to coordinate with the nuances of the theater’s color scheme. Sculpted steel candlesticks simulating wax drippings, feature blown-glass diffusers that replicate candletip flames.
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