For Immediate Release: 9/30/2016 11:09 am
Worcester, MA (September 30, 2016) - After a hugely successful series of tours over the summer, the City of Worcester and the Worcester Cultural Council will host a series of fun events at the historic Worcester Memorial Auditorium throughout October.
Before closing its doors in 1998, the Auditorium hosted events that ranged from live concerts, political rallies, circus performances, graduations and trade shows. Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Muhammad Ali and Bob Cousy, all performed there. Thousands of Worcester residents graduated from high school in the historic structure.
The City's efforts to reengage the community with the Auditorium began last month, with a series of free tours led by Preservation Worcester. Over the course of three weeks this summer, more than 1,000 people walked through the historic structure and saw its wondrous architecture, historic mural and larger-than-life Kimball organ. The City and the Worcester Cultural Coalition are seeking to continue the momentum generated by these tours by offering a series of fun events.
"A lot of people have nostalgia for the Aud, but a lot of people, particularly young people and new people to Worcester, never had the chance to see it up close. We saw over the summer just how interested people are in this historic treasure, and we want to keep that momentum going with some fun events," said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. "No matter if you graduated at the Aud, or you've never been inside, this is a chance to enjoy a night out and see this grand structure up close."
"The Worcester Auditorium is such a historic gem which played host in the past to many great gatherings and musical legends. What a better way to activate this space than with art, music, entertainment, food and most important, great people" said Erin Williams, Cultural Development Director for the City of Worcester.
Downtown Underground: Urban Masquerade
October kicks off with the continued Downtown Underground event series hosting an Urban Masquerade. Sponsored by Pulse Magazine, Action! Worcester and Wormtown Brewery, the night is sure to bring lots of dancing, entertainment and more to bring a new feel to an old historic building. The party happens on Saturday, October 1st, from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Join the underground at www.worcesterdowntownunderground.com.
Auditorium Exhibit at City Hall
This August, the doors to the Great Hall, the Memorial Lobby and the Memorial Hall of the Worcester Auditorium were opened to host a series of tours from Preservation Worcester docents. Among those who toured were local photographers. A showing of the displays and images created will be on view in the Levi Lincoln room, 3rd Floor City Hall on October 4th from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. On display will be pictures and diagrams from the past, photographs from local artists Bob Bernier, Jaime Flores, Scott Erb and Donna Dufault from the present, and presentations from Preservation Worcester docents.
Wings Over Worcester
The Worcester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will provide an afternoon long event on October 9th. Starting at 3:00 PM, the Seele Musicale Chamber Ensemble will perform in the Memorial Hall. Organist William Ness will bring his expertise to the mighty Kimball organ in the Great Hall at 4:00 PM. Back in the Memorial Hall, the St. John's Schola Cantorum shares their a cappella voices at 5:30 PM, followed by the Coriolis Chamber Players at 6pm. Ending the night is the showing of the epic 1927 silent film Wings, with accompaniment by Peter Krasinski. Chair rentals are available at www.worcaud.com/tickets.
Organ Concert
Organist Peter Richard Conte will the get the pipes blowing again on October 14th at 7:00 PM. Preceding his performance will be a chamber music string quartet in the Memorial Hall at 6pm. The evening will begin with an introduction from an Honor Guard. Chair rentals are available at www.worcaud.com/tickets.
Silent Film - Nosferatu
The eerie and scary cinema classic Nosferatu will haunt the Great Hall on October 20th at 7:00 PM. With accompaniment by organist, Peter Krasinski you will see the story of the original Dracula while listening to the ghouling sounds of the Kimball echo through the Auditorium. This event is free to the public. Doors will open at 7:00 PM. All vampires are welcome!
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ABOUT THE WORCESTER MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM
Before closing its doors in 1998, the Worcester Memorial Auditorium hosted events that ranged from live concerts, circus showings, graduations and trade shows. Thousands of Worcester residents graduated from high school in the historic structure. The Auditorium was built after the commission of Mayor Pehr G. Holmes in 1917. It was dedicated as a monument to World War I veterans in 1932, before its completion in 1933, at a cost of $2.1 million. The Auditorium was designed by architects Lucius W. Briggs and Frederic C. Hirons, and later finished by Worcester contractor George A. Fuller Company. The initiation of the Worcester Memorial Auditorium was one of the starting points of strengthening Worcester's cultural happenings, and is one of the most prominent and historic buildings in our city. It has been vacant and unused for almost two decades.
ABOUT THW WORCESTER CULTURAL COALITION
The Worcester Cultural Coalition is the unified voice of Worcester's cultural community whose members are the leaders of the City's sixty-plus arts and cultural institutions and organizations. The Cultural Coalition was formed in 1999 in partnership with the City of Worcester, Worcester Cultural Commission, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Colleges of Worcester Consortium and Worcester County Convention & Visitors Bureau, to ensure that arts and culture play a vital role in Worcester's planning and development efforts.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS
The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. The Guild serves approximately 15,500 members in more than 300 chapters throughout the United States and abroad. Founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization, the Guild seeks to set and maintain high musical standards and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music.
ABOUT PULSE MAGAZINE (PAGIO, INC.)
Pulse Magazine is a lifestyle and entertainment magazine for Central Massachusetts, staffed by individuals who bring over 20 years of experience and success in the niche market magazine publishing arena. Paul Giorgio, founder of Pagio, Inc., was also the founder and President of Worcester Publishing, Ltd., whose publications included Worcester Magazine, The Worcester Business Journal and Maine Biz. Pagio's list of publications includes Pulse Magazine, Vitality Magazine, Worcester Medicine, The Central Massachusetts Dining Guide as well as TasteWorcester.com. Pagio Inc. also runs several events throughout the year including: Worcester Restaurant Week, Taste of Shrewsbury Street, Shrewsbury Street Walk and Rock, Shrewsbury Street College Shuffle, Canalloween, Shrewsbury Street Oktoberfest.ng arena. Paul Giorgio, founder of Pagio, Inc., was also the founder and President of Worcester Publishing, Ltd., whose publications included Worcester Magazine, The Worcester Business Journal and Maine Biz.
Pagio's list of publications includes Pulse Magazine, Vitality Magazine, Worcester Medicine, The Central Massachusetts Dining Guide as well as TasteWorcester.com
Pagio Inc. also runs several events throughout the year including:
Worcester Restaurant Week
Taste of Shrewsbury Street
Shrewsbury Street Walk and Rock
Shrewsbury Street College Shuffle
Canalloween
Oktoberfest/ColumbusFest
ABOUT PRESERVATION WORCESTER
Preservation Worcester is a private, not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to the preservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods which represent the culture, history and architecture of Worcester, Massachusetts. The mission of Preservation Worcester is to preserve for future generations the sites and structures which are significant to the culture, history and architecture of the City and to encourage excellence in future design.
