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Carpenter Theatre's stage wall knocked down to make room for expansion

Richmond CenterStage took one step closer Wednesday to becoming a reality with the tearing down of the historic Carpenter Theatre's back wall behind the stage.

Workers began knocking down the back wall of the 80-year-old Carpenter Center, recently renamed the Carpenter Theatre, in order to double the size of the stage house for performers and crew when Richmond CenterStage opens in 2009.

Located on the north side of Grace Street between Sixth and Seventh streets, Richmond CenterStage will include a renovated Carpenter Theatre and the new Dorothy Pauley Square, which includes four new venues: Rhythm Hall, The Genworth Brightlights Education Center, The Libby Gottwald Community Playhouse and The Showcase Gallery.

Participating in the wall demolition event were Linda Dalch Jones, executive director of CenterStage Foundation; Sheila Hill-Christian, city of Richmond chief administrative officer; Bill Goodwin, Richmond Performing Arts Center Board member; and Maggie Hill, who played the role of "Clara" in the Richmond Ballet's "Nutcracker." Richmond Symphony Associate Conductor Erin Freeman led the audience in a drumroll to start the tearing down of the wall.

The preceding was compiled from a Capital Results news release.