Several SOR Denver students were featured on a recent broadcast of Fox 31’s “Everyday” show- they were on hand to greet Jack Black when he visited the show to promote his new movie! In addition to playing a short song by Tenacious D (Jack Black’s musical project), they were also able to have a short meet and greet with him- and were also part of a news story about SOR Denver’s programs that ran on the evening news that day!
In case you missed it, here’s a link to the news story:
http://kdvr.com/2015/09/28/actor-jack-black-surprises-some-denver-students-gets-surprise-of-his-own-during-visit-to-fox31/.
Thanks to Allie Redhair, Cody Templeman, Jamie Wandishin, Zach Wandishin and Tristan Welch for doing such a great job representing us on live TV!
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LEVITT PAVILION DENVER UNVEILS EXCITING NEW DESIGN FOR AMPHITHEATER IN RUBY HILL PARK
October 5, 2015 – Levitt Pavilion Denver is pleased to unveil the design concept for a new state-of-the-art amphitheater in Ruby Hill Park, providing details of the site layout and exterior design of this exciting new cultural facility.
Opening in July 2017, Levitt Pavilion Denver will be Denver’s next great outdoor amphitheater, producing 50 free concerts each summer in Ruby Hill Park, just minutes from Downtown Denver. Levitt Pavilion Denver is a public/private partnership between the City and County of Denver & Levitt Pavilion Denver, and will be operated by Friends of Levitt Pavilion Denver, a local non-profit with a mission to build community through music by creating an outdoor living room in one of Denver’s most beautiful and underutilized parks.
“After three years of community outreach, fundraising and planning, we are finally seeing our efforts come to fruition,” said Chris Zacher, CEO and Executive Director of Friends of Levitt Pavilion Denver. “With the unveiling of this innovative design, we have our first peek into Denver’s next great concert venue.”
A Gift to our Community
Levitt Pavilion Denver will be the first 100% free cultural venue in Denver. This invaluable asset to concertgoers and musicians alike, Levitt Pavilion Denver will provide increased access to the arts. With the average cost of U.S. concert tickets skyrocketing to $69.52 in 2013* (according to Pollstar), the 7,500-capacity amphitheater will donate the equivalent of $26,070,000 of free music each year! The amphitheater will also act as a launching pad for local artists, exposing them to audience sizes eclipsing those of local bars and indoor venues. Emerging Colorado based musicians will be paid above current local scale and half of the concerts will be dedicated to those Colorado-based acts, with the rest featuring seasoned artists along with emerging national and international groups.
“The site beckons a poetic architectural response, one that is as distinctive and diverse as the numerous acts that will perform on its stage,” said Joseph Montalbano, Principal Architect of studiotrope Design Collective, the local firm selected to design Levitt Pavilion Denver. “We seek projects that have a compelling story or are community-based, and in the case of the Levitt Pavilion Denver we have found both; strengthening community through music.”
A Proven Model
Levitt Pavilion Denver will be the seventh Levitt Pavilion in the U.S. Other locations include Westport, CT, Bethlehem, PA, Memphis, TN, Arlington, TX, Pasadena, CA and Los Angeles, CA. When not used for the 50 free concerts, the facility will be permitted to outside promoters, non-profits, and corporations. Admission-based events will also be allowed, and the City of Denver will own and maintain the building. Friends of Levitt Pavilions Denver will operate the facility and program the annual concert series.
About the Design
Upon visiting the Ruby Hill Park site, the designers from studiotrope Design Collective were struck by the immensity of the natural bowl. Standing in the lower part of the bowl offers a unique outdoor experience because the horizon as we know it, does not exist. The eastern Colorado plains are hidden by a dense growth of vegetation and the western Colorado mountains are blocked by the slope of the bowl. The new horizon, defined by the flowing landscape, frames a view of what feels like an enormous sky. All at once the sky formations are more evident than in other parts of the City.
To enhance the big sky experience, the design creates a connection between the Earth and the sky. The form and configuration of Levitt Pavilion Denver were conceived as a ribbon that grows from the ground plane, folding onto the building and gesturing upwards towards the sky while providing cover for the 1,500 sq. ft. stage. Once complete, the top of the ribbon walls will blend into the sky during the day and reflect the activity of the performances at night. The walls that flank the stage will embrace the audience while providing a customizable “canvas” backdrop unique to each performer. The material selected is not only reflective and unobtrusive, but more importantly it is resilient to heavy use and exposure to the elements.
The stage platform is oriented to take full advantage of the natural bowl, offering spectators peak viewing and acoustical experiences from a wide-range of locations. A plaza flanks the stage doubling as a welcoming and accessible entry point from the southern parking lot, supporting food trucks and other festival amenities like concessions and public restrooms. Backstage is fully supported with a loading dock, fully fitted dressing rooms, offices, and a green room.
Areas adjacent to the pedestrian plaza will have unique functionality geared more towards intimate gatherings and performances. Levitt Pavilion Denver is designed to feel full regardless of the size of the concert crowd, creating a stronger relationship between the performer and their audience.
“At this location, under the large Colorado sky, as part of a larger master plan, this venue can become more than performances on a stage, it has the potential to invigorate, stimulate, and strengthen a community, both locally and regionally. We are honored to be a part of such an endeavor,” said Montalbano.