The Lincoln comes alive
By Mark J. Lucas |
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The Lincoln Theater is more than just another historic Columbus theater. Started in 1928, it was originally known as the Odgen Theater, and was one of the cornerstones of entertainment for the African American microcosm formed by segregation. The stage has been graced by the likes of James Brown, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Etta James, and Nancy Wilson. At the age of three, Sammy Davis Jr. first displayed his talents at the Lincoln to kick off his 60-year career in show business.
Slated for demolition in 1991, it was saved and added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2004, the City of Columbus pledged $4 million and was matched by Franklin County to renovate the theater, and today it stands. A marvel of Egyptian-style architecture, it is expected to revitalize the King-Lincoln district in which it is housed, and it will bring with it the old flavor it once enjoyed.
"It will give appropriations in reference to [that era]," says Suzan Bradford, General Manager of the Lincoln. "This was sort of seen as a jazz community. We're giving that era reverence, but we're also expanding."
The theater has two sections, the main showroom, which will feature larger performing acts, and a ballroom upstairs.
Inside the Lincoln Theatre lobby
Photo: Christopher Atwood
"A lot of the acts that will be performing here will be on the national level and on the local level," says Bradford, "so there'll be a variety of different events that will happen here from dance to theater to comedy to spoken-word poetry."
One of the major functions the Lincoln will serve is to be a center for the arts, as well as an entertainment venue. In keeping with that, it will offer courses in jazz performance and dance, put on by local organizations. Just as much will happen during the day as at show time, a concept which the management is very excited about.
"Throughout the week the ballroom will be used as rehearsal space for several dance art forms," says Bradford. "They will be able to utilize that, with an educational curriculum attached to it. We have the jazz academy on the top floor, which will offer classes on both instrumental and voice, to try to preserve that richness that was here."
And the facilities at the Lincoln offer a distinct advantage to anyone that uses them. The money to renovate the theater didn't all go to the architecture. The equipment that was installed is top-notch, rivaling that of any other theater in town.
"We have a state of the art lighting and sound system," says Bradford, "which allows us to handle national acts, but local artists will be privy to that same kind of equipment, which will enhance their production and bring a lot of quality to their presentations. They have the ability to broadcast and move their recordings from one place to another, including recording studios."
Local veterans aren't the only ones who will reap the benefits. In the future, the Lincoln hopes to work hand-in-hand with schools, so that students will have access to resources they wouldn't have otherwise had at their disposal.
"Part of our plan is to really pull in the Columbus Public School Systems," said Bradford. "Especially some of the local schools that surround the King-Lincoln District. There are also a number of private schools and pre-schools around the district that we're looking to tie in, so we're excited about that."
One of the more remarkable aspects of the Lincoln Theater is the length it goes to support the area. A symbiotic relationship has been established between the theater, local businesses and community organizations, which Bradford believes will be of mutual benefit, both to the theater itself and to the surrounding area.
"One of the responsibilities I have as general manager is to be a community liaison," says Bradford. "We do a lot of work with the King Arts Complex, co-partnering and co-marketing. We've pulled in a lot of local restaurants to cater our events and to give them exposure. We've partnered and are neighbors with the Broad Street Presbyterian church, who have allowed us to use their parking facilities. We're not new to the neighborhood, but outreach is a big focus for us, and we really are giving that a lot of attention."
Bradford herself has a personal connection with the project and the theater that drives her work. A Columbus native of the King-Lincoln district, she has returned after an extensive career to work with the Lincoln Theater Association and CAPA, in order to see the vision of the project through its implementation stage.
"I am a product of this community," says Bradford. "I was born here. I was raised on Long Street. I had my first exposure to the arts here in this theater, in the ballroom. I use the arts to do a lot of personal social development for young people. To move into this position after twenty years of managing dance companies and youth programs is truly an honor."
The Lincoln Theater, as is, is still the new kid on the block. It has only been open for six weeks, but it's going strong and has a lot of support, both from the King-Lincoln community and from the city and county as well. This month, it will host the Miracles on July 4,and She Speaks, a women's poetry event, on July 19, as well as performances almost every weekend by local residence groups and artists.
Originally Published: July 1, 2009
