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New look for old theater

Renovations at Tampa Theatre are filmed for a reality television show set to air in spring.

By CARRIE WEIMAR
Published December 15, 2006

	From left, Elizabeth Christenberry, episode producer Melissa Cross, Randi Whiddon and Holli Stewart paint trim in the green room at the Tampa Theatre on Thursday as part of filming for DIY to the Rescue. The space had been used for storage.
[Times photo: Daniel Wallace]

TAMPA - Sure, everyone raves about the charm and character of the Tampa Theatre. But have you seen the dressing rooms?

Grimy tile. Outdated fixtures. A bathroom that has clearly seen better days.

Enter the DIY Do It Yourself Network. The home-improvement channel is in Tampa to film renovations to the two antiquated dressing rooms and the creation of a green room for DIY to the Rescue, a reality television show.

Network representatives arrived Thursday and will be in Tampa through Saturday. They are filming two shows: one devoted to the green room and the other to the dressing rooms.

The shows are tentatively scheduled to air in April.

Backstage was a frenzy of activity Thursday. Volunteers wielding paintbrushes roamed the halls, followed by men with television cameras. Construction workers sanded boards and nailed molding to the walls.

John Bell, the theater's director, said the renovations are sorely needed.

"First and foremost, it means that the performers who come here will feel well cared for," Bell said. "It sends the signal that the facility cares."

Nearly all theaters have a "green room," a place where performers can relax before going on stage. At the Tampa Theatre, the space has been used for storage.

Now, after clearing out the junk and knocking down a wall, it is an airy room with light green walls and modern light fixtures.

Workers from Beck Construction, which donated more than $250,000 in labor and supplies, actually began renovations the week after Thanksgiving. But there was still plenty of work left to film.

Melissa Cross, an episode producer for DIY to the Rescue, said each show is divided into small lessons, such as installing the sink in the green room's wet bar and laying carpet tiles.

"By the time we're finished with the project, we've taught the volunteers how to do it," Cross said. "It's really an empowering thing."

Catherine Sanders, a volunteer with the Tampa Theatre Restoration Society, first dreamed up the idea of asking a television network for help.

"I thought, why not us?" Sanders said. "These home improvement shows have to film someone. Might as well ask."

She sent an e-mail application to the DIY Network last summer and finally heard back about two months ago.

Karl Champley, co-host of DIY to the Rescue, said the 1926 theater was a big change from the residences they typically renovate.

"This is really special because of the building's history," he said. "We didn't want to build something you walk through and it feels like a new addition."

Theater director Bell described the filming as "organized chaos."

"They tell you to do something, then say, 'We don't want you to do it yet,' " he said.

Volunteer Randi Whiddon, an architect with Urban Studio who helped design the green room, said she was a little nervous about her DIY debut.

"I don't like cameras," she said, laughing. "But it was very enjoyable. The crew gave me some pointers on how to relax."

The volunteers must work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day the camera crew is in town. And they were also advised to keep their evenings free in case the crew needed more shots.

But volunteer Laura Frost said she didn't mind the work.

"The exciting thing is we're seeing things happen," she said. "We're not just talking about it. We're seeing results."

Carrie Weimar can be reached at (813) 226-3416 or cweimar@sptimes.com.

[Last modified December 15, 2006, 05:36:24]