Waching daily Oct 26 2018

This is the grand opening weekend of the Empire State performing arts center the

opening of the egg marks the completion of the 11 major buildings that make up

the Empire State Plaza. Construction began in 1965 and construction on the

egg itself began in 1972 . The unique size and shape of the building presented

engineers with a very difficult problem - how to construct a concrete building 270

feet long and 113 feet high set on a relatively small base. The result is

considered something of an architectural marvel. The center contains a 983 seat

main theatre as well as a 500-seat recital hall and will provide audiences

with a variety of musical and theatrical performances. The Egg will be the

permanent home of the Empire State Youth Theater Institute, which is currently

producing Peter Pan in the main theater. we asked the director of the Youth

Theatre Pat Snyder to give us a rundown of the other activity scheduled for

grand opening weekend. The wonderful thing about this weekend is that there's

something for everybody. We have high school bands coming from around the

state, dance groups, we have the Metropolitan Opera coming, New York City

Ballet, Leonard castles Mass narrated by Kitty

Carlisle Hart, piano recitals, jazz concerts, laser shows, dancing on the mall.

There's something for everybody and the wonderful part about it is that

it involves a lot of people - the office of general services, Port of Van Sant who

has been the producer for the weekend and the State University of New York, the

State Education Department, and government state government. This is

running through the weekend and into Monday, what are the, the highlight

of each day. Well this evening the inaugural performance in the egg will be

the preview of Peter Pan and Sunday evening Leonard castles Mass Monday

evening a gala with the dancers from the New York City Ballet and the

Metropolitan singers from the Metropolitan Opera and I'd say that

those are the three large features but simultaneously there will be other

events going on in the recital hall of this new meeting center which we call

the egg on the bandstand in the plaza and there are available seats and I

urge the community and the public to come to the mall and to take advantage

of this wonderful festival that's taking place in their very midst. A number of

political dignitaries and invited guests attended the dedication ceremonies and

the weather was beautiful and added to the festive occasion. Bishop Howard

Hubbard of the Albany diocese gave the invocation to start the grand opening of

the Performing Arts Center. Let us pray Heavenly Father you have created the

human person to be able to express his life and his loves in various ways and

through the use of different types of expression to lift up the human spirit

you have given us the gift of song, dance, poetry, theater, and prose. For the

blending of human talents your human family is enriched and refreshed. We

praise you father for these gifts. We see your hand and all that surrounds us

especially in those who seeks one fall from life the joy beauty and meaning

that you have placed there we ask you to be with us as we dedicate this place

devoted to the Performing Arts. Shine your light and all those would anyway

have labored on this project or who will perform here may this place always be a

source of comfort and joy for all who will pass through its doors. Finally

Lord be with us as we give thanks to you the author of the universe and the lord

of life both now and forever and ever amen.

Governor Carey, members of the legislature, Mayor Corning members of the

Empire State Plaza council honored guests ladies and gentlemen I am truly

delighted to welcome you to these dedication ceremonies marking the formal

opening of the Empire State performing arts center otherwise known as the egg

in the midst of this grandeur and splendour and indeed the beauty of these

magnificent structures it is sometimes easy to lose sight of the human spirit

and the human endeavor which created these outstanding examples of

architectural genius. The many architects and engineers the planners the workmen

who labored so intensely to bring this project to culmination cannot be

overlooked on this notable day. To celebrate these events we have planned a

thrilling three and a half day grand opening weekend with the program truly

reflecting the manner and ways in which these facilities will be used. Surely we

will have performances by the Metropolitan Opera the New York City

Ballet and other nationally known individuals but just as importantly we

will have performers from State University and various groups from high

schools across the state numbering some several hundred parenthetically in this

connection we are indeed grateful to the State University of New York and the

Department of Education for making many of these events possible. The completion

of construction of the Performing Arts Center which also signals the end of

construction for the mall truly reflects a most significant spirit

of accomplishment in a renascent New York State this Performing Arts Center

will stand as a proud new symbol of our continuing activity in the arts this

Plaza now lays before you for posterity a symbol of the resources the power and

the greatness of this the Empire State of the Union thank you

and now at this time I would like to introduce the distinguished guests who

are with me here on the reviewing stand as I present them I would ask them to

stand and suggest that you hold your applause until I have introduced

everyone

Chancellor Wharton State University of New York I think I'll go along as I see

you Victor Loret on the Empire State Council mrs. Madeline Stein got wife of

Speaker Stein got loose wire also on the Empire State Plaza council I see Jim

Corrine Albany County Executive

Bernie Turner's also on the Empire State Council

Dominic Spano vice president Albany building trades and construction group

Carol gable of Empire State Plaza council Assemblyman dick Conners of

Albany Bernie Conners Albany State Council know the Empire State Plaza

Council Barbara McNamee Empire State Plaza Council dr. Bruner Empire State

Plaza Council Gordon owned by Commissioner of

Education John Byron director of construction here in the plaza who made

all of this possible and Pat Snyder Empire State youth theatre

and now it is a great pleasure to introduce to you Wallace K Harrison one

of the country's leading architects whose firm Harrison and Abramowitz was

the coordinating architect of all of the construction here at the Plaza this

genius which is reflected here today is also reflected in such buildings as the

int as the United Nations headquarters Rockefeller Center and Lincoln Center

mr. Harrison

today with this formal work work on the last of the Empire State structures is

complete you can't imagine what that means to somebody who has worked on a

building for almost 16 years on understanding the complex however is

constructed we are finished although as an architect who has been in the

profession for many years I know the plaza will never be complete has changed

is certainly a constant I've been asked many times why we designed the meeting

center as we did from a purely architectural approach the meeting

center is apart of art of the architecture fills a rather difficult

part of the overall composition dictated by the original scheme of the temporary

Commission on the capital city this fair ordeal shape fills a void in the

composition and in solid form as a minimum surface area for a given volume

the shape permitted the design of two holes in which seating could be arranged

as an apathetic thus bringing all the audience as close to the scene of action

as possible in this area the Empire State Plaza

we have spaces for functional Convention Center meeting rooms as well as theatres

there are spaces for large and small conventions faces were great scientists

could lecture for the Great Chamber Music Group could perform or even one of

our high school artists might play those spaces are now available to the children

and the women of New York State have many of whom have never experienced the

improvement of music heard in a hole rather than on the finest radio or

television set in this building which we are dedicated today we've tried to

design a Senate where would be possible to provide better music and better

performances for all the people of New York and the Northeast must use the

sciences of government and building to enrich the lives of the people in this

area

Thank You mr. Harrison one of the main reasons why over the past two years we

have been able to transform these governmental buildings into a warm

atmosphere for the enjoyment of people as a gracious woman who's with us today

for contributions to us and every aspect of the arts world have been many in

manifold I know present kitty Carlisle Hart thank

you

today we raise the curtain and what will be the first of many openings at this

remarkable new Performing Arts Center the last structure to be completed on

the mall and only now is the mall truly a finished product for it is the

vibrancy and richness of the arts the theater the dance the music that brings

our cities and our states to life it is the arts that make you know New

York State unique that draw people to our state from hundreds and thousands of

miles away that make New York the artistic capital of the nation and what

better place to showcase the artistic wealth of our state than in the capital

city for our Performing Arts are indeed the

expression of the richness and diversity of New York's cultural wealth this

Performing Arts Center is significant not only for the artistic contribution

it will make but for the extraordinary partnership it has already helped to

create and nurture among the many facets of our government we have all cooperated

to make this day a reality we have come to understand that the arts touch much

of what happens in New York but as we work together for a strong and

prosperous state we must also work for a healthy arts environment this Performing

Arts Center stands as tangible proof of what cooperation can achieve I have

great faith that our partnership will be as permanent and as fertile as this

magnificent structure promises to be thank you

Thank You kitty a gentleman with whom it has always been a delight to work with

and whose cooperation has always been unfailing his honor mara harassed his

Corning of Albany thank you Jim governor carry lieutenant governor coupe

sector bishop of urgell honored guests my longtime friend Rowley Harrison and

all I can really say is that I joined with him in seeing this culmination of

the tremendous imagination and tremendous amount of hard work that he

and his associates put into producing today but is such a perfectly beautiful

example of the works of man the acoustics here of the listen to the

music are beautiful the tower standing there and right next

to it the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception then the public housing then

the Niagara Mohawk steam plant then the grain elevator then then the oil tanks

and then the beautiful Hills which at least from here seem to be still the way

they were in the hand of God created this Empire State Plaza today has fit in

and become a major part of the physical beauty and the cultural beauty of this

entire area it was a long time coming there were many complications many

problems but today I think we can say that this is a good job very well done

and that the good Lord can look down from above and say that the works a man

in this particular case have proved to be good and have proved to be works a

man that have been also under the spirit and guidance of the good Lord so I'm

glad on this magnificent may day to be with you on this final occasion of the

culmination of the construction of this tremendous complex of buildings that

will be remembered throughout the world for generations to come

Thank You Mara corny certainly she has been and is a woman for all seasons a

truly remarkable person a dedicated individual I take great pleasure in

presenting lieutenant governor Mary Ann grip sack

Thank You Commissioner Shay Bishop Hubbard governor Carey mayor corning

colleagues in government ladies and gentlemen

much has been said of the jewel that the egg is for all of us

architectural II and as a home and shelter for the performing arts I'd like

to just comment about the centerpiece that will be occupying this beautiful

facility the Empire State Youth Theater Institute

has already felt a need and responded to education call for a role of the Arts in

raising the consciousness of our young to the wonders and the beauties of all

of the Performing Arts and just as importantly in being a vehicle for

education itself that will continue here as well as providing the anchor for

performances that will inspire groups individuals other institutions across

our state to match the excellence and to as Kitty Hart has so ably said realize

the fullest potential that the arts play in the life of New York State we

continue to be a magnet for people from all over this country who come to New

York to cultivate their talents and to share them with the rest of the world

this facility becomes a major Center in upstate New York taking its rightful

place with all of the arts for which we are so proud across our state it's a

pleasure to be here today on such a gorgeous day to participate in this

historic occasion thank you

you know we don't want this guy Thank You lieutenant governor surely as I have

remarked there is great beauty and dignity and this the Empire State Plaza

but I know what to introduce a man who sees a much larger beauty in the

utilization of these facilities by the people by all the people of the state of

New York it is indeed an honor to present the

governor of the state of New York you all carry

Thank You mr. O'Shay tenant governor Krupp sac bishop hubbard river and

Brunner Kitty Hart all of the members of the Empire State Council leaders who are

here representing the workers and labor who created with their talents all of

the structures we see around us today mr. Harrison mrs. Harrison and all of

you who participate in what should be a very joyful and inspiring day already

the structure where we gather is affectionately known as the egg I

suppose those more euphemistic may refer to it as an elliptical spheroid but an

egg it is and this should resolve Mayor Cornyn I want to say this to our mayor

it should resolve for all time that historical conundrum as to which came

first the chicken or the egg first of all no bullet could ever develop the

kind of size poultry that would give us this kind of a and had we had chicken

hearted people in Albany when mayor with the governor Rockefeller then decided to

go ahead with this project this egg would not have been here so this

resolves that question the chick the egg is here and we're certainly not going to

have anything squatting on top of it but

but in all candor it is a very sophisticated and unprecedented

structure and best part of the structure as we see it here and as we will be

using it is that it is for all the people just as are all of the parts of

this great plaza 11 buildings the Empire State Plaza is a symbol to the people

that they can come here for joy and the complete

participation in the Arts performing museum and in the work that goes on here

in the governmental side of these structures fittingly within the

resources we have available here immediately the work of the Empire State

Youth Theatre will begin and the presentation Peter Pan will augment and

inaugurate these activities today so that enjoyment and creativity will

continue this work that we begin here I see the future in terms of the lifting

of hearts of young children from the schools who will first look at amazement

at the structure and then live the enjoyment of the performances that will

here take place and many an elderly heart will imbibe nostalgia and

reminisce as the great works of music and drama are performed here and as the

eloquent come here to address this on topics of our times and increase the

store of knowledge in our state for all these things the people will realize day

after day that when men are creative joined in the

work of God great things can be performed in the Empire State this great

state which we live and work as mr. Harrison said this is a beginning but

there will not be an end because as government extends itself in the service

of the people and the people tell their government what they wish the changes

they desire will be made in their laws and their structures and in the ways in

which we live it's especially important this weekend I think back on the words

that late Edith Lehman widow of our form a great

governor Lehman said to me on one occasion I hope that over all the years

all of the governors will take care to remember our veterans those who fought

to make us free and therefore there could be no more fitting time on which

to begin these activities then this time here are now and I'm so proud that on

Memorial Day there will be fitting and suitable remembrances throughout the day

of musical and other ways in which the Veterans Memorial will come to life I

and again be part of this system and the surroundings so that this becomes not

only a Plaza but a shrine of remembrance therefore

we can recount again with joy and with a great sense of spiritual commitment we

now have the means to add to the happiness of our people and the

happiness of our people rests in their freedom and their commitment and I'm so

pleased that Mayor Corning looked over this Vista and identified the works of

man and the works of Almighty God now join together this plaza will bring all

of us closely together who joy remembrance and the vision of tomorrow

that helped to bring us here today thank you very much at the conclusion of the

dedication ceremonies lieutenant governor Mary Ann crook sack cut the

traditional red ribbon which officially opened the Performing Arts Center

it goes down official