Tabor inaugurates Richert Auditorium

As part of Tabor’s 2018 homecoming festivities Oct. 18-21, the drama department will give four presentations of “My Fair Lady.”

The 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 production will be the first in the new Richert Auditorium, a state-of-the-art venue for major theatrical productions within the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts.

The other productions will be 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 and 20 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 21.

“My Fair Lady” incorporates many memorable tunes, such as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Get Me to the Church on Time,” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.”

Director Laurel Koerner said the move from the H.W. Lohrenz chapel to the new auditorium has allowed major improvements, including enhanced scenery and lighting effects and a designated orchestra pit.

The stage has a massive system of pulleys and cables that enables scenery pieces to be “flown” to new locations quickly and permits more complicated scene designs. It has all-LED lighting that can change bulb color on command.

Set designer and technical director Ethan Koerner has a large space behind the auditorium for building sets and transferring them to the main stage.

Lead designer Lily Arthur and student Arian Moye designed costumes for 20 people. Performers have a space where they can change costumes quickly.

“That’s something we never could have pulled off before having what we have here,” Koerner said.

Tickets are $20 for the public and $10 for students. They can be purchased online at tabor.edu.tickets.