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Building Name
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Legacy-Sponberg Theatres
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Description
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Located in the Judy Sturgis Hill Building, the Legacy-Sponberg Theatres are the main home for the theatrical arts on campus.
The Legacy Theatre is the larger of the two mainstage houses. The 36' x 58' stage, fronted with a 35' x 20' proscenium arch, is the 327-seat home for faculty-directed mainstage productions. Legacy's stage boasts an additional 11' deep forestage apron, which includes a lift that can be lowered for use as an orchestra pit. The fly loft grid extends the full width and depth of the stage, housing a counterweight system of 31 line sets. The costume shop is located in the basement of the Legacy Theatre.
The 202-seat Sponberg Theatre is the more intimate of the two mainstage houses. It is located just beyond the Judy Strugis-Hill building's main lobby. It offers a 18' x 40' modified thrust stage. Part of the stage can be removed to accommodate a small band. A system of catwalks allows access to areas over the stage and the auditorium for effects and lighting.
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Namesake Biography
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Harold Eugene Sponberg was born September 26, 1918, in New Richland, Minnesota; he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1940 from Gustavus Adolphus College, Master of Arts from the University of Minnesota, 1941, and his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 1952. He married Grace Miller of Orange City, Florida, and had five children. On October 2, 1965 President Sponberg was inaugurated as the university's 15th President. When Sponberg took the reins of EMU the student population was approximately 10,188 students and the university maintained an image of a teacher-training institution. Sponberg undertook the college boom as a challenge and new buildings sprang up as fast as money could be found to build them. Buildings built during the "Sponberg Era" are Pray-Harrold; University Library (now the Porter Building of Education); Mark Jefferson Science Complex; Rynearson Football Stadium; Ostrike Baseball Stadium, and the vast majority of the dormitories. President Sponberg also established the first office of a full-time Director of Alumni Relations, converting the old office of publications and news services into the Office of Information Services. He used his background in orattion to help facilitate speaking to alumni, civic and service groups. Harold Sponberg resigned his position as University President on March 20, 1974. After suffering a heart attack in his home, Harold Sponberg died April 26, 1975.
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Building Namesake
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Harold Sponberg, University President, 1965-1974
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Year Constructed
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1984
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Date Dedicated
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1985
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Building Functions
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Theater
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Architect
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Sim, Varner and Associates, Detroit, MI
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Builder
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Alber Kales, Contractor
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Original Cost
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$1,600,000
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Architectural Style
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Post Modern
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Square Footage
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6,000
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Rights
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This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the owner, Eastern Michigan University Archives (lib_archives@emich.edu).
