Stover demolition update – Aug. 15, 2012:

The last detail of removing the four decorative pillars from the lobby area of Stover Theatre was completed this morning, Wednesday, Aug. 15, by 10:40. The pillars will be stored for future use to help memorialize Stover Theatre, which has been the home of Stetson’s Theatre Arts productions since 1930. Once the small group of interested bystanders—including news media, curious neighbors and Stetson faculty and staff—were moved to the designated safe area, the heavy lifting part of the demolition process began. Everything is expected to be down by Friday, Aug. 17, according to Al Allen, associate vice president for Facilities Management. Everything will be removed and cleared from the area by the following Friday, Aug. 24.

Stetson’s 2012-13 production season will begin in the newly renovated “Second Stage” Theatre located in the Museum of Florida Art, 600 N. Woodland Blvd., directly west of campus, with the production “An Evening at the Improv,” featuring Stetson student improv artists, Sept. 27-30.

 

Heavy Stover demolition begins Wednesday, 8-15:

Update 8/13/12: While the initial steps involved in the demolition of Stover Theatre will begin Monday, 8/13/12, the major steps that will involve heavy machinery, will not begin until mid-morning Wednesday, 8/15. This update is from Al Allen, Associate VP for Facilities Management. During the demolition process, everyone is asked to please avoid the area around Stover Theatre, if possible. If anyone must be in that area, please use caution. News media must contact the SUM Office, (386) 822-8920, to be escorted to the site.

STOVER UPDATE Aug. 10, 2012:

The schedule for the demolition of Stover Theatre will begin at approximately 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 13. Everything has been removed from inside the building, except the four decorative pillars inside the lobby area. They will be removed Monday, and stored for future use.

The long process of dismantling Stover’s theatrical fly system to give it to the Athens Theatre in DeLand, was completed Friday, Aug. 10. Other valuables from Stover that were identified as items that could be used by other theatrical organizations, have been distributed.

As planned, during the demolition process, all valuable metals from the building will be recycled.

During the demolition process, everyone is asked to please avoid the area around Stover Theatre, if possible. If anyone must be in that area, please use caution. We will continue to update news of this continuing process in Stetson Today www2.stetson.edu/today.

UPDATE Aug. 6, 2012:

Because Stetson is in the process of dismantling the theatrical fly system to give to the Athens Theatre in DeLand, the demolition of Stover Theatre has been delayed until next Monday, Aug. 13.

In an effort to give valuable items from Stover Theatre to organizations in the surrounding communities, Associate Vice President for Facilities Al Allen worked with Theatre Arts Technical Director William Elliott to identify items the university no longer needed that could be used by other theatrical organizations. To date, Stetson has donated theater furnishings and other equipment to Osceola Elementary School, the Shoestring Theatre Company in Lake Helen and the Orlando Ballet.

As planned, the construction fence was installed today around the perimeter of the building. Again, everyone is asked to stay away from the secured area surrounding Stover Theatre. We will continue to update news of this continuing process in Stetson Today.

Aug. 1, 2012:

With salvage work and asbestos abatement completed, the schedule for the demolition process of Stetson University’s Stover Theatre has been revised slightly since the university’s last notification.

Although the schedule remains tentative, due to weather and/or contractor schedules, the revised schedule calls for installation of a construction fence on Monday morning, Aug. 6. Removal of the building is expected to begin that afternoon, with completion expected by Aug. 24. The site will be converted to green space by the end of August.

Built in 1930, Stover Theatre was slated for demolition by Stetson University and the City of DeLand in June, because of severe deterioration caused by water intrusion, flooding and air quality over the years. As announced earlier this spring, through the new partnership with the Museum of Florida Art, the university is making a significant investment in Stetson’s Theatre Arts program so that it can continue and grow, with no disruption. Extensive renovations have been made over the summer, and the museum space is now ready for the new academic year, which begins Aug. 23.

Stetson University’s Theatre Arts program will have four productions open to the public during the 2012-13 academic year, including a popular musical during the fall Homecoming. The full production schedule can be found at  https://www2.stetson.edu/today/2012/07/theatre-performance-times-announced/.

During the demolition process, everyone is asked to please avoid the area around Stover Theatre, if possible. If anyone must be in that area, please use caution, and do not enter the facility.