Needed revamp takes stage

The Duke campus boasts state-of-the-art technology and facilities in nearly every discipline. Unfortunately, Baldwin and Page auditoriums, the University's two major performing arts centers, are in need of improvement.

The venues have received substantial criticism over the past few years for their subpar acoustics and out-of-date technology, as well as logistical issues such as size and comfort.

"They simply don't serve the art forms," said Kathy Silbiger, who retired as Duke Performances director last December after more than two decades at the University. "They're visually, technically and acoustically inappropriate... both for the artists performing and the audiences, and they have been for many years."

A recent review of the Duke Symphony Orchestra's Feb 14 concert, published in Classical Voice of North Carolina, highlighted the same issue.

"Wednesday's concert revealed weaknesses in some sections as well as in Baldwin Auditorium," wrote Joe and Elizabeth Kahn. "If only [director Harry Davidson] and his forces could 'mold' the Duke exchequer into building a new performing venue that can serve both student and professional ensembles."

If only. Although the possibility of a Page replacement was mentioned, albeit briefly, in 2005 preliminary plans for the new Central Campus, serious discussion never materialized on the issue.

Professor Richard Riddell, special assistant to the president and Mary D. B. T. and James H. Semans professor of the practice of theater studies, cited a number of reasons why the committee opted for building two smaller venues on Central as opposed to constructing a large-scale theater facility.

"The more we looked, two things came into focus. First, the city of Durham is building a new large theater and that's going to be about 1,800 seats," Riddell said. "Also, if you build a new theater on Central what would you do with Page? You wouldn't want to leave it the way it is."

"They fill a space need which we have in those areas," Lange said. "They will give us much better performance stages on a smaller scale than we have anywhere else on campus."

The acoustics issues in Baldwin Auditorium should be easy to address, Riddell said.

"It's the primary facility for music and performance so we're going to start studying [Baldwin] and see what we need to do to make it a really good concert hall," Riddell said. "That would be sooner rather than later."

However, it remains to be seen whether the necessary improvements to Page can feasibly be made in the available space.

Another factor to be considered throughout the renovation process is the potential of the arts to strengthen bridges between the University and the Durham community, Silbiger said.

"As a whole, the University has a big cultural role to play and if Duke wants to establish better relations by making itself more accessible and paying attention to the comfort of and offerings to the community, the arts is one way they can do that," she said.

But for the time being, visiting performers, campus groups and audiences must make do with the existing venues.

"It sends a message that the performing arts have not been valued as highly as other activities at the University and it's not as though these problems haven't been brought to people's attention," Silbiger said.

As the Camerons of the arts, there is no doubt Page and Baldwin Auditoriums could use some attention. State-of-the-art fitness centers, libraries and facilities such as the Nasher Museum of Art and the French Family Science Center have made contributions to Duke academics and student life. With large venues on Central Campus likely not an option, art afficionados will have to wait for improvements on the existing structures in order to bring them up to par with other campus fixtures.