Chautauqua Venue Fate Debated

The fate of a historic amphitheater in Chautauqua, N.Y., that’s hosted the likes of Susan B. Anthony, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Duke Ellington is being considered by preservationists as others push for reconstruction of the venue.

The 120-year-old Chautauqua Amphitheater in New York may, or may not, be torn down.

Administrators of the 122-year-old Chautauqua Institution would like to update and make the facility more accessible through the construction of an orchestra pit, upgraded seating areas and new backstage areas.

But a historic preservation panel’s recent report explained that a decision to demolish the venue “cannot be reversed, only regretted.”

The panel debated whether the institution, which has expressed several goals including expanding programming and the capacity of the building, will be able to meet those objectives while keeping the building intact. “If every program goal must be met in the existing building, there may be no way to preserve the historic amp,” the report said.

Recommendations made by the panel included hiring a qualified preservation architect with experience in the rehabilitation of historic theaters and performance spaces, delaying a decision on the plan until an engineering report can be reviewed, and reassessing future programming goals. The panel also suggested building a second structure on the property to house productions inappropriate for the aging venue. The institution’s board is scheduled to consider the historic report and other public input before making a decision during an upcoming meeting.

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