Aaron Davis Hall

Last updated

Aaron Davis Hall
Aaron-davis-hall.jpg
Aaron Davis Hall
Address160 Convent Ave.
Location New York City
Public transit Subway: 135th Street–St. Nicholas Avenue NYCS-bull-trans-B-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-C-Std.svg
Owner City College of New York
Type Performing arts center
Capacity Marian Anderson Theatre: 750
Theatre B: 250
Construction
Built1974–1979
OpenedOctober 24, 1979 (1979-10-24)
Construction cost$5.3 million
Website
adhatccny.org

Aaron Davis Hall is a performing arts center in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. It opened in 1979 [1] and is located on the campus of the City College of New York, between West 133rd and 135th Streets on Convent Avenue, one block east of Amsterdam Avenue. and is the northern extension of Morningside Avenue beginning at 127th Street. It consists of the Marian Anderson Theatre, named after the American contralto, and Theatre B, a black box theater.

Contents

In 2007, it was among over 530 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. [2]

History

In 1974, the City College announced plans for the $5.3‐million Aaron Davis Hall, which would house the school's Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts. [3] The Aaron Davis Hall was opened in 1979 with a concert by many notable artists such as Mikhail Baryshnikov and Ella Fitzgerald. The architecture received acclaim for its verve and "dignified" style. [4]

In December 1992, the hall underwent a $250,000 renovation, which involved replacing torn carpet, repainting and sprucing up the lobby and backstage areas, and installing a new computerized lighting system and a 40-channel audio system, compared to the old system which only allowed four microphones. [5]

In 2007, it was among over 530 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. [2]

Notable performers and visitors

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morningside Heights</span> Neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City

Morningside Heights is a neighborhood on the West Side of Upper Manhattan in New York City. It is bounded by Morningside Drive to the east, 125th Street to the north, 110th Street to the south, and Riverside Drive to the west. Morningside Heights borders Central Harlem and Morningside Park to the east, Manhattanville to the north, the Manhattan Valley section of the Upper West Side to the south, and Riverside Park to the west. Broadway is the neighborhood's main thoroughfare, running north–south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apollo Theater</span> Entertainment venue in Manhattan, New York

The Apollo Theater is a multi-use theater at 253 West 125th Street in the Harlem neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City. It is a popular venue for black American performers and is the home of the TV show Showtime at the Apollo. The theater, which has approximately 1,500 seats across three levels, was designed by George Keister with elements of the neoclassical style. The facade and interior of the theater are New York City designated landmarks and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The nonprofit Apollo Theater Foundation (ATF) operates the theater, as well as two smaller auditoriums at the Victoria Theater and a recording studio at the Apollo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ossie Davis</span> American actor, director, writer, and activist (1917–2005)

Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis was an American actor, director, writer, and activist. He was married to Ruby Dee, with whom he frequently performed, until his death. He and his wife were named to the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame; were awarded the National Medal of Arts and were recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gershwin Theatre</span> Broadway theater in Manhattan, New York

The Gershwin Theatre is a Broadway theater at 222 West 51st Street, on the second floor of the Paramount Plaza office building, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Opened in 1972, it is operated by the Nederlander Organization and is named after brothers George and Ira Gershwin, who wrote several Broadway musicals. The Gershwin is Broadway's largest theater, with approximately 1,933 seats across two levels. Over the years, it has hosted musicals, dance companies, and concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Harlem School of the Arts</span> Art school in Harlem, New York

Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) is an art school located in the Harlem section of Manhattan, New York City, United States. Opening its doors in 1964, HSA serves ages 2 through 18.

The Handel Medallion is an American award presented by the City of New York. It is the city's highest award given to individuals for their contribution to the city's intellectual and cultural life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beacon Theatre (New York City)</span> Entertainment venue in Manhattan, New York

The Beacon Theatre is an entertainment venue at 2124 Broadway, adjacent to the Hotel Beacon, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1929, the Beacon Theatre was developed by Samuel "Roxy" Rothafel and built as a movie palace, with 2,894 seats across three levels. It was designed by Walter W. Ahlschlager with decorations inspired by the Renaissance, Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek, and Rococo styles. The theater is designated as a New York City interior landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar Peñas</span> Spanish jazz composer and guitarist

Oscar Peñas Cambray Catalan - North American is a jazz bandleader and composer-guitarist born in Barcelona, Spain. He has been living in New York since 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Park Avenue main line</span> Railroad line in New York City

The Park Avenue main line, which consists of the Park Avenue Tunnel and the Park Avenue Viaduct, is a railroad line in the New York City borough of Manhattan, running entirely along Park Avenue. The line carries four tracks of the Metro-North Railroad as a tunnel from Grand Central Terminal at 42nd Street to a portal at 97th Street, where it rises to a viaduct north of 99th Street and continues over the Harlem River into the Bronx over the Park Avenue Bridge. During rush hours, Metro-North uses three of the four tracks in the peak direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lasker Rink</span> Ice rink and swimming pool in New York City

Lasker Rink, dedicated as the Loula D. Lasker Memorial Swimming Pool and Skating Rink was a seasonal ice skating rink and swimming pool at the southwest corner of the Harlem Meer in the northern part of Central Park in Manhattan, New York City. Designed by the architects Fordyce & Hamby Associates, it operated from 1966 to 2021. Lasker Rink was demolished after its final season of operation and is to be replaced by a new facility known as the Harlem Meer Center in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">369th Regiment Armory</span> Historic armory in Manhattan, New York

The 369th Regiment Armory is a historic National Guard Armory building located at 2366 Fifth Avenue, between West 142nd and 143rd Streets, in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. It was built for the 369th Regiment, also known as the "Harlem Hellfighters", founded in 1913 as the first National Guard unit in New York State composed solely of African-Americans. It later became home to the 369th Sustainment Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">115th Street Library</span> United States historic place

The Harry Belafonte 115th Street Branch of the New York Public Library is a historic library building located in Harlem, New York City. It was designed by McKim, Mead & White and built in 1907–1908 and opened on November 6, 1908. It is a three-story-high, three-bay-wide building faced in deeply rusticated gray limestone in a Neo Italian Renaissance style. The branch was one of 65 built by the New York Public Library with funds provided by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, 11 of them designed by McKim, Mead & White. The building is 50 feet wide and features three evenly spaced arched openings on the first floor. The branch served as Harlem cultural center and hub of organizing efforts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voza Rivers</span> American film and theatre producer

Voza Rivers is an American producer and co-producer of theater, film, music, and live events, born in Harlem, New York. River's work as a theater producer, music executive, event producer, and documentary filmmaker has been presented in the United States, Japan, South Africa, Togo, Nigeria, Cuba, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlem Repertory Theatre</span>

The Harlem Repertory Theatre was founded in 2004 by Keith Lee Grant, a Theatre professor at City College with a goal of making theatre accessible to the Harlem community. They primarily seek to present shows that explore issues of class and race. Harlem Rep performed for seven summer seasons at Aaron Davis Hall before moving off campus to the 133rd Street Arts Center. It was at this venue that Harlem Rep's production of Dreamgirls ran and received AUDELCO awards in a number of categories. After two years, the company moved to a larger space in the Tato Laviera Theatre in East Harlem. Among the productions at their East Harlem Home are: A Raisin in the Sun in 2017, Sweet Charity (2019), and Harburg & Saidy's Jamaica (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judy Tyrus</span> American ballet dancer

Judy Elizabeth Tyrus is a classical ballet dancer who danced as a principal with the Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) from 1977 to 1999. She was the curator and an archivist for DTH for over eleven years. She founded ChromaDiverse, Inc., a non-profit company supporting arts, culture and theatre causes in May 2019.

Olga James is an American singer and actress best known for her role in the film Carmen Jones (1954). Her later acting credits include a role in the Broadway musical Mr. Wonderful and a recurring role on The Bill Cosby Show. James was married to jazz musician Julian "Cannonball" Adderley from 1962 until his death in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apple Bank Building</span> Bank and apartment building in Manhattan, New York

The Apple Bank Building, also known as the Central Savings Bank Building and 2100 Broadway, is a bank and residential building at 2100–2114 Broadway on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Constructed as a branch of the Central Savings Bank from 1926 to 1928, it occupies a trapezoidal city block bounded by 73rd Street to the south, Amsterdam Avenue to the east, 74th Street to the north, and Broadway to the west. The Apple Bank Building was designed by York and Sawyer in the Renaissance Revival and palazzo styles, patterned after an Italian Renaissance-style palazzo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryonn Bain</span> American writer, musician, and activist

Bryonn Bain is a poet, actor, prison activist, scholar, author, hip hop artist and professor of African American Studies and World Arts & Cultures in the School of the Arts and the School of Law at the University of California at Los Angeles.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gala Opening of Davis Hall Tomorrow" (PDF). The Campus . October 23, 1979.
  2. 1 2 Roberts, Sam (July 6, 2005). "City Groups Get Bloomberg Gift of $20 Million". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  3. Gent, George (March 29, 1974). "City College Unveils Arts Center Plan". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  4. Goldberger, Paul (November 5, 1979). "Aaron Davis Hall: Architectural Paradox". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Collins, Glenn (December 5, 1992). "Jazzing Up a Harlem Concert Hall". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Harry Belafonte Tribute Concert Back By Popular Demand at Aaron Davis Hall". New York Trend Online. February 14, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 "History – Jazz At City" . Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  8. "The Jazz of Gil Evans Conducted by Gil Evans". The New York Times. November 19, 1982. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  9. 1 2 "The Koppel Report: A Town Hall Meeting With Nelson Mandela | Vanderbilt Television News Archive". tvnews.vanderbilt.edu. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  10. 1 2 Magazine, Harlem World (July 18, 2022). "Nelson Mandela Speaks At City College In Harlem, 1990". Harlem World Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  11. 1 2 York, The City College of New (January 26, 2018). "A surprise visit from a man who needs no introduction: Obama". The City College of New York. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  12. Hinckley, David (May 7, 1998). "A Record Year for Poetry & Pop". Daily News. New York. Retrieved August 15, 2023 via newspapers.com.
  13. York, The City College of New (October 17, 2011). "Lillias White Opens Aaron Davis Hall Season November 4". The City College of New York. Retrieved December 19, 2022.

40°49′03″N73°57′05″W / 40.81750°N 73.95139°W / 40.81750; -73.95139