AKRON, Ohio - The Akron Civic Theatre is launching a renovation and expansion project designed to enhance the 90-year-old venue's offerings.

Through $4 million from the Knight Foundation and $1 million from the GAR Foundation, the Civic will partner with the Bowery Development Group to revitalize a prime block in the heart of downtown Akron.

The project will break ground Friday.

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The Civic Theatre project will transform 123-year-old Whitelaw Building into a 225-seat, multi-use venue for events ranging from local musical acts to weddings.

The project dovetails with the Bowery Development Group's $40 million plan to redevelop the 12-story Landmark Building and five smaller buildings just north of the Civic on South Main Street.

The buildings will be developed into apartments, along with stores, restaurants, a microbrewery and a grocery store.

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Whitelaw Building stage

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The Civic Theatre's expansion into the Whitelaw Building, 178 South Main St., enables the Bowery Project to encompass the entire block of Main Street. The Knight funding is earmarked specifically for development of the performance venue.

"This is a significant investment for Knight, which focuses on the revitalization of downtown," said Knight's Akron Program Manager Kyle Kutuchief. "It will make downtown look and feel like the quality that we know it to be. We know our downtown is wonderful."

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The Jewel on Main Street

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Known as "The Jewel on Main Street," the Civic Theatre draws more than 135,000 people to a variety of events at each year, with many coming from outside Summit County, said Civic Theatre Executive Director Howard Parr. The auditorium seats 2,592 people.

The Civic offers a blend of national, regional and local entertainment. Since 2007, the number of events has increased from 55 to 60 per year to 200 per year, Parr said. It generates an estimated $8.1 million each year in economic activity, according to a recent study by Americans for the Arts.

Extending the venue to the Whitelaw Building will enable the Civic to book a minimum of 100 events each year, attracting 15,000 people, and raising the theatre's impact to more than $9 million per year, the study found.

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An asset inside and out

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Built by Marcus Loew in 1929, the Civic was designed to resemble a Moorish Castle in Gibraltar, with carvings, antiques and sculptures shipped to Akron from Europe.

Architect John Eberson intended everything designed into the original theater to be beautiful, including the light fixtures.

"There's a huge disconnect between what's outside and what's happening inside," Parr said. "We want to make the outside as much an asset as the inside."

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Dull to dazzling

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The current project will pick up where a $22 million expansion and renovation left off in 2002. The earlier work secured the Civic Theatre's failing infrastructure and restored the interior decor. But the work ended at the doors of the Grand Lobby. Now, a line across the lobby ceiling, where the color goes from dull to dazzling, represents where the work ended.

As part of the new project, the theater's grand lobby and entry arcade will be restored, including the theater's signature brass doors at the main entrance on South Main Street.

The theater's box office, lost when the Stage Left/Rite Aid building was demolished in 2016, will be rebuilt and administrative offices added.

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Public artwork, digital displays

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A tri-level outdoor deck will be created, overlooking Locks 3 and 4, and connecting with Main Street. The top two levels of the deck will be covered. Murals will be created outside. Digital audio and visual technologies will be used to show videos on the side of the buildings, including performances in real-time.

"This revitalization project gives overdue attention to our community's front door on Main Street, in the heart of downtown Akron," said Christine Mayer, president of GAR Foundation, in a news release. "The Civic Theatre's contribution to the local arts and culture sector continues to strengthen Akron's identity as a vibrant and creative community."

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Programming by 2020

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Along with local musicians and special events, programming in the smaller venue will include the Millennial Theater Project. Much like community theater, the Civic launched the project to enable local talent to continue performing after high school in shows such as "Hairspray! The Musical," which is currently showing.

The Civic expects the project to be completed in late 2019. The new stage, which has not yet been officially named, is expected to begin offering programming in early 2020, Parr said.

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Transforming the Jewel on Main Street

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The total cost of restoration and renovation of the Civic Theatre is expected to reach $8.5 million. The grants from Knight and GAR, along with $1.5 million from local foundations, nonprofits, and other funding sources, bring the capital campaign to $6.5 million.

Fundraising will continue through 2019, Parr said. One dollar of every event ticket sold at the theater is directed back into renovation efforts.

To donate to the Civic Theatre restoration, visit Transforming the Jewel on Main Street website.