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CHAMPAIGN — Upcoming technical upgrades to the Virginia Theatre are not expected to impact Ebertfest but will affect next year’s performance of That’s What She Said.
The Virginia will close in January 2025 and is expected to reopen just in time for Ebertfest, which is set to run from April 23-26, said theater director Steven Bentz.
That’s What She Said, an event in which local women tell personal stories “of love, loss, tragedy and triumph,” has been held at the Virginia since 2015, said national director Jenette Jurczyk.
It’s been scheduled in late February to early March since 2019. Jurczyk said the preference is to have the local event early in the year, so it can be their first show of the season.
Bentz said that the Virginia is in talks with the companies that typically use their space during the winter, and possible solutions include helping them find other venues or seeing if they’d be able to move their event dates.
That’s What She Said is considering both of these options, Jurczyk said.
“I just hope that if we decide to move to a different venue that this community will still show up to support That’s What She Said, even if it looks a little different,” she said. “But we have every intention of returning to the Virginia Theatre when the renovations are complete.”
She also noted that since she produces five shows in five communities, “pivoting is very normal.”
According to Bentz, the Champaign Park District, which owns and operates the Virginia, plans to replace and upgrade the “computer control elements” of the facility’s fly system, hence the closure.
“The fly system are those elements backstage that raise, suspend and lower items over the stage,” he said. “Everything from set pieces to backdrops, light fixtures, monitor speakers, curtains, screens and so forth.”
Bentz said that the fly system itself has a long lifespan, and the computer control system is the only piece being replaced.
The control elements are about 12 years old, and both the hardware and software need to be updated.
While the Virginia hasn’t had major issues during actual performances, Bentz said there have been problems with the system freezing up and not responding to commands at other times, such as once when they were taking down a lighting rig from a tour.
They’ve been able to fix these problems by troubleshooting and working with the company that owns the product, but the controls have not been provided with updates and are running on an aging operating system.
Bentz compared the situation to owning a laptop that is 10 years old; eventually, the device can no longer accept updates, and it’s time for a replacement.
They also want more flexibility and power from the new system.
Bentz said the work will take at least three months and will be a “very involved” project.
”The fly system isn’t just one computer controller,” he said. “It’s got elements of computer control on pretty much every component. So, in other words, if you have a motor above the stage that raises and lowers, it’s called a batten. That’s what you put all the light fixtures on or a piece of scenery or a piece of fabric. That motor has a computer control on it. So each of these individual components have to be given essentially a new brain.”
The Virginia also plans to take advantage of the closure to complete some smaller projects that might otherwise disrupt programming, such as annual paint and plaster upkeep and small equipment purchases, Bentz said.
Bentz noted that the theater has had to “go dark” at various times in its history, such as during 2012 renovations and the COVID-19 pandemic.
”We’ve certainly done it a number of times over the years as we’ve restored this historic facility, but it’s never easy to do,” he said. “It is difficult to tell productions that we won’t have the available calendar space for them.”
Still, he feels that the improvements will be worth the wait.
”It’s going to be fantastic to have this equipment updated,” he said. “And we think it will make the theatre that much more attractive to productions, both touring and local.”
Despite the inconvenience, Jurczyk is glad the park district is investing in the theater.
“I am happy that they’re doing these renovations,” she said. “It’s only going to make the venue even better.”
