Lighting bringing auditorium to life

When it comes to the Superior Auditorium, the improvements continue to roll and afford the opportunity for the auditorium community to venture forward,  booking a variety of local and community events, as well as professional venues.

Some of those improvements were evident Saturday when the auditorium was the settting for a catered meal and evening of jazz music.

Vickie Nielsen, a professional performer and the auditorium committee’s a event coordinator, told The Express, “I was very aware of basic structural needs and items necessary to properly outfit the stage. By today’s concert and theatrical standards, the stage is in need of a few, but important upgrades for the artists and audiences. 

“For the auditorium to host professional traveling artists, who are already coming to community centers, theatres and concert halls in Nebraska, we need to set our focus to outfitting our stage, on par with the other surrounding facilities. It is our dream and goal to bring quality entertainment to the auditorium, so those in our community have no need to travel elsewhere! The Superior Auditorium has everything needed to host  performances right here.”

  And so the committee is slowly adding items as time and finances permit with the goal of making the auditorium on par with other concert facilities and able to attract professional artists and acts with everything in place for them.

The first stage improvement project was to add proper black wings (curtains) on stage right and stage left, giving the artist a private space to prepare.

An antique lower cabinet, rescued from the old Nelson Bank was donated, and now works as a fine dressing table, with a large lighted makeup mirror, comfortable stools and clothing rack. Only one side is done, at this time.

Following the Joseph Hall, ‘Elvis Tribute’ performance, the committee discovered how beautiful the entire concert hall can be with proper lighting! 

So far, four stage lights have been purchased. In the future the plan is to add towers, additional lighting and a large screen. 

As she focused on Joseph’s performance, Nielsen said, “I was equally, if not more, transfixed by the incredible ways the different lights danced and played off of the grand architecture of the building! The building, itself, became part of the show!”

The historical building was built in such a way that, when it is lit properly for a performance, it “wakes up” not only the stage, but the house, as well. 

An audience member who attended Saturday’s Night of Dinner and Jazz said she was actually surprised. “I felt like I could be somewhere in New York!” An additional comment from a gentleman, who grew up here, stated thoughtfully, “The building just woke up.”