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E.J. Thomas Hall music program is successful at attracting patrons from surrounding campus
By Malcolm X Abram
Beacon Journal music writer
Published on Friday, Sep 25, 2009
In 2006, officials at the University of Akron's E.J. Thomas Hall wanted to find a way to diversify, and to fill the datebook with acts that could draw an audience but perhaps not to the theater's capacity.
''The entertainment industry has changed so much and we were looking at our options for doing something different. E.J. Thomas Hall is a wonderful building, but 3,000 seats just isn't in demand as much and not what audiences are looking for,'' Executive Director Dan Dahl said.
So while searching for inspiration on how to best use the facility in the face of the changing industry, inspiration struck on a business trip to Manhattan.
Dahl visited one of the city's legendary small jazz clubs and a light bulb went on: ''It's a big black box, and we said 'We could do this on our stage.' ''
So in 2008, Dahl and his staff organized and opened Stage Door, which takes the hall's stage and turns it into a relatively small, intimate venue within the venue. About 300 to 500 concertgoers enter through the actual stage door and sit at tables placed on the stage facing the hall's main room, while the performer sets up on a riser near the front of the stage, giving it a small-club atmosphere. Completing the transformation are the popular cash bar and light appetizers.
Year one opened with an eclectic slate of eight shows, most with tickets at $20 or less, including mellow neo-soul singer/songwriter Raul Midon, contemporary composer and ''cello goddess'' Maya Beiser and hip young ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro. The response surpassed all of Dahl's and his staff's expectations, selling out nearly all of the shows and bringing in plenty of positive feedback.
The idea proved so popular that E.J. Thomas Hall has expanded this year's offerings to a full week every month of programming that incorporates specifically student-aimed fare during the week and a concert or two on the weekends.
''This gives us such an opportunity to offer more diversity in programming, different audiences and different types of collaborations we can do,'' Dahl said.
This year's Stage Door has already given students the opportunity to see soul singer Javier and rock band Saving Jane, as well as a series of guest speakers and discussions called ''Roo Talks.'' For the general public, Stage Door gets going tonight with a concert from the University of Akron Steel Drum Band dubbed ''Roots of Rhythm: From Africa to Trinidad.'' On Saturday night, singer/songwriter and Old 97's leader Rhett Miller will perform music from his 2008 self-titled album. On Sunday night, legendary smooth jazz acoustic guitarist Earl Klugh will perform.
Dahl said the new focus on offering exclusive student fare is part of a broader mission to become a part of campus life and further aid the university in shaking the ''commuter school'' tag, along with new campus buildings and downtown student living. Additionally, Stage Door has reached out to collaborate with on-campus groups and community organizations. Radio station 91.3-The Summit and Cleveland Scene are sponsoring the Rhett Miller show, and local advocacy group Keepers of the Art will collaborate with Stage Door on two shows under the title ''Keeper's Lounge'': smooth neo-soul crooner Dwele on Oct. 10 and popular Cleveland-based singer Conya Doss Nov. 21.
Dahl says the collaborations not only help to diversify the schedule, but also involve the greater community while spreading the word about the venue and the opportunities to see acts one might otherwise have to drive up Interstate 77 to experience.
''Find the folks like Keepers who are passionate about what they do and it will work,'' Dahl said. ''I learned that forever ago.''
''So finding those collaborators and finding the people that will help you is important. We can help them with the space and the logistics and the stuff we're good at doing. But find these people and see how we can hook up and see how we can make a win-win situation.''
Surviving the constantly changing entertainment business and the harsh economic downturn is easier said than done, and Dahl said during his travels he has seen other theaters that simply cut back the schedule to the bare minimum, but at some point they must adapt. Though the first semester's concerts are finalized, officials have purposely left dates open for early 2010 with the idea that opportunities to book interesting acts and collaborate with different groups will present themselves.
''There's becoming a bit of a shortfall of what's available for the large performances, and there's so much more risk and more expenses for both the theater and the audience members,'' he said.
''So these things we're bringing in are phenomenal acts and great talent, some different things. And what's not available in the Akron area much is a club like this. There's more up in Cleveland but here in Akron I think we're serving a need that isn't being filled that much.''
Stage Door 2009 schedule
8 tonight — ''Roots of Rhythm: From Africa to Trinidad,'' University of Akron Steel Drum Band, $10, $8 seniors and UA faculty, $5 non-UA students, free for UA students with ZipCard
8 p.m. Saturday — Rhett Miller, $10, $5 UA students
7 p.m. Sunday — An Evening with Earl Klugh, $10, $5 UA students
8 p.m. Oct. 9 — Old School Soul starring Morris Day & The Time, $50
9 p.m. Oct. 10 — Dwele, $10, $5 UA students
Noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 11 — Gospel Brunch with Chuck Myricks, $30
8 p.m. Nov. 20 — Hill Country Revue, $10, $5 UA students
9 p.m. Nov. 21 — Conya Doss, $10, $5 UA students
3 p.m. Nov. 22 — Back to the Ballroom: Big Band Dance, $10, $8 seniors and UA faculty, staff, alumni and parents, $5 non-UA students, free for UA students with ZipCard.
In 2006, officials at the University of Akron's E.J. Thomas Hall wanted to find a way to diversify, and to fill the datebook with acts that could draw an audience but perhaps not to the theater's capacity.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 07:25 AM, 09/25/2009
Sounds like the intimate Black Box theater that the Bang and Clatter duplicated... Maybe this could breathe some life into the Akron theater scene.... Not everything has to be a "lavish, musical production!"
Akron, Oh
Posted 03:47 PM, 09/25/2009
"E.J. Thomas Hall is a wonderful building, but 3,000 seats just isn't in demand as much and not what audiences are looking for,'' Executive Director Dan Dahl said."
THAT'S A LIE. DAHL IS JUST COVERING UP THE FACT THAT HE REFUSES TO PUT UA STUDENT ORIENTED SHOWS IN THE HALL THAT WOULD FILL THE 2,955 SEAT HOUSE. INSTEAD HE PUTS IN PUFFED UP SECOND HAND KNOCK OFF ACTS OR LOCAL ACTS. BOTH OF WHICH CAN BE STAGED IN NUMEROUS OTHER SUB-VENUES ON THE UA CAMPUS.
THE SO-CALLED STAGE DOOR SERIES AT UA IS NOTHING MORE THAN A GIMMICK. ANYONE CAN HAVE A SELL-OUT CONCERT WHEN HE PUTS HIS AUDIENCE IN A VENUE THE SIZE OF A POSTAGE STAMP.
WHY IS IT THE HOWARD PARR CAN BOOK TOD RUNDGREN IN THE CIVIC FOR TWO ACTS WITH A LITTLE LESS SEATS THAN UA'S PAH, BUT DAHL CAN ONLY PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH PIZZA AND HOT DOGS THAT THEY ALREADY PAID FOR AND CLAIM THAT HE IS SERVING THE UA STUDENT BODY? DIVERSITY MY YOU KNOW WHAT. PIG IN A POKE AND IT'S OBVIOUS.
Akron, Oh
Posted 04:29 PM, 09/25/2009
If Dahl thinks that UA's PAH is so obsolete, then why doesn't UA fire him, gut the facility and turn it into a student parking deck. UA did not construct, fund, own and operate a multi-million dollar center for the performing arts on campus only to have its failed "director" duplicate programming that has been done in other small sub-venues on the UA campus by volunteer student organization (read - no pay)for the past half century.
If UA can present Patti Lupone and Mandy Patankin, Mannheim Steamroller, Hairspray, Avenue Q, The Rat Pack and The Wedding Singer for the non-student community (and don't kid yourself, these shows are geared for non-students), then it can provide UA students with nationally and internationally known contemporary, rock and R&B artists who will fill the 3000 seat house as opposed to the garbage that they are dishing out to UA students in stage door junk and outside sock hops with local bands. Reminds me of the days of slavery. The upper crust gets the best part of the pig or cow, while the slaves (aka UA students) only get the entrails.
Akron, Oh
Posted 05:14 PM, 09/25/2009
"Not everything has to be a "lavish, musical production!"
"E.J. Thomas Hall is a wonderful building, but 3,000 seats just isn't in demand as much and not what audiences are looking for,''
No one is claiming that everything has to be a "lavish musical production" That is why The University of Akron built a performing arts hall in 1973 with a moveable ceiling that can shrink the hall from a 2,955 seat facility to approxiamtely 800 seats.
And if it is true that 3000 seats are no longer in demand by audiences (which it is not true), then that is why The Univerisity of Akron built a flexible performing arts facility in 1973 to accomodate as little as 800 seats.
Why all the fuss and hype about your precious counter weights and adaptable and diverse ability to shrink and expand the house size when you ignore this bragged about feature and use the stage for your audience? Can we say, phony shell game boys and girls?
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:27 AM, 10/01/2009
Jason12
I hope you are at least the descendants of slaves to make such a spoiled statment as to compare privleged college students to slaves.
I know you hate Dan Dahl, I've seen your posts before, good for you. Voice your opinion about him all you want, but as the descendant of slaves I don't appreciate you invoking such horror when talking about college kids and whah whah whine about the entertainment they 'deserve'.
I was moved to understand and empathize with your earlier rants because you are passionate, clearly, about your disdain for Dahl et al BUT you lost me when you compared UA Students to slaves. Not cool.
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:16 AM, 10/14/2009
Wildflower - get over yourself and your contrived liberalism. There is a difference between a comparison and an analogy. Everything in history is fare game as an analogy including slavery. Your phony indignation is blatant not to mention off topic.
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:23 AM, 10/14/2009
BTW Wildflower or whatever hippy handle you choose for yourself - What is not cool is your personification of the issue. My concern is about fair treatment and competence. This is not about hating or having disdain for anyone or about slavery. Your trying to change the subject matter is what's not cool.
