Alto –Standing magnificently apart high above Ruidoso with a view of the beautiful Sacramento and Capitan mountain ranges, the Spencer Theater is both a work of art and a center for performing arts.
Award-winning architect Antoine Predock was commissioned by the late Jackie Spencer, the founder and chief benefactor of the Spencer Theater, to build the performance hall in 1996 in the Sacramento Mountain settlement of Alto, about 12-miles from downtown Ruidoso.
At a cost of approximately $22-million, Predock’s stunning design is a silhouette of Sierra Blanca Peak, the region’s dominant natural feature and has won several design awards.
The white theater is a sculpted limestone mass that has been excavated into exact relationships between light, views, performance, and procession,” Predock has explained.
“The wedge-like form of the theater suggests a monolithic piece of stone that has forced its way up from beneath the crust of the mesa. Lodged within a fissure, and erupting from the north flank, is a crystalline, chandelier-like shell of laminated glass linking the vertical procession to the upper lobby and entry to the theater house,” according to Kathleen McDonald, with Spencer Theater.
Predock’s poetry was cast in Spanish mica-flecked limestone, a remarkable feature that dominates the sight lines for miles. The architect’s “crystalline, chandelier-like shell” lobby was designed by computer and is composed of 300 hand-cut panes of glass. Additional elements that make the Spencer outstanding is the exterior river-like fountain, precise acoustics, multiple fly lines, a sprung stage, intimate seating, an outdoor loggia, spacious dressing rooms, green room-accessible private courtyard, and a garden amphitheater.
Even if you never went to a performance, it’s well worth the trip to go on a free, comprehensive tour of the theater. The tours are offered to the public twice weekly at 10 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday. For more information about schedules and performances, visit spencertheater.com or call 505.336.4800.
But performing arts is what Spencer Theater is all about and they always book high quality acts. Here’s their schedule for December and January.
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Tuesday, Dec.12. The Flying J Wrangler Cowboy Christmas Special, Christmas at the Spencer just isn’t complete without the rich, melodious vocals of The Flying J Wranglers. The multi-instrumental cowboy/western heritage music group puts on a holiday show filled with seasonal favorites. Wrapping together this Christmas present is the homespun comedy and warm stage banter for which the Wranglers are known throughout the west.
Saturday, Dec. 16 at 8pm Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. Inspired by the tremendously colorful, exhilarating atmosphere of turn-of-the-century America, “ragged-time” in its various manifestations dominated the nation’s popular music scene for more than twenty years (c.1897-1917). Many may be surprised that this highly creative era also generated a number of Christmas tunes like Oh Tannenbaum, Reindeer Rag, The Night Before Christmas and Babes In Toyland – tunes with contemporary popular twists that play throughout shopping malls most every holiday season. The leading exponent of this vintage American popular music, Rick Benjamin’s Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, performs this high energy, foot-tapping music in “‘Round the Christmas Tree.”
Wednesday & Thursday, Dec. 20 –21, 7 pm, $25 “The Nutcracker” with the Ruidoso Dance Ensemble, an outstanding local dance company with professional standards, performs this holiday classic for the second year on the Spencer stage. Under the artistic direction of Deborah Rogers, a former professional dancer with several Houston companies, this is a “Nutcracker” with assertive choreography and elegant action. It’s virtual eye-candy, not only with the pas de deux, mighty leaps, and gorgeous Tchaikovsky score, but also because of the lavish costuming and stunning special effects of the props by the Spencer’s Technical Director Bob Phaup. More than 50 area dancers, ages six to 60, will take roles. The production will again be joined by professional dancer Norbert Nirewicz, a former principal in his native country’s Polish National Opera. (Proceeds from this rental production benefit the non-profit Ruidoso Dance Ensemble.)
Monday, Jan. 15 at 8 pm Like father, like son: “Tormé Sings Tormé. The son of legendary jazz singer Mel Tormé presents a magical evening of music and memories. Steve March Tormé sings his father’s best known songs, including such hits as Lulu’s Back in Town, Mountain Greenery and of course The Christmas Song, interspersed with family photos and some never-before-seen video clips. Accompanied by a big band, there’s no question that Steve March Tormé has pops genes. Check out the Spencer website for a song list.
Saturday, Feb. 3 at 8pm, “In The Mood,” a 40’s musical-dance revue!
Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 8pm, The Moscow Festival Ballet dances “Don Quixote".</td><td width=350 valign=center><br><img src=http://sonewmex.com/banners/spencer_theater_ad.jpg align=right border=1></td></tr></table>
For tickets, reservations and more information, call 888.818.7872 or visit www.spencertheater.com (http://www.spencertheater.com/)
By Alto Reporter
© 2006 SONewMex.com - Permission To Reprint Granted
Alto –Standing magnificently apart high above Ruidoso with a view of the beautiful Sacramento and Capitan mountain ranges, the Spencer Theater is both a work of art and a center for performing arts.
Award-winning architect Antoine Predock was commissioned by the late Jackie Spencer, the founder and chief benefactor of the Spencer Theater, to build the performance hall in 1996 in the Sacramento Mountain settlement of Alto, about 12-miles from downtown Ruidoso.
At a cost of approximately $22-million, Predock’s stunning design is a silhouette of Sierra Blanca Peak, the region’s dominant natural feature and has won several design awards.
The white theater is a sculpted limestone mass that has been excavated into exact relationships between light, views, performance, and procession,” Predock has explained.
“The wedge-like form of the theater suggests a monolithic piece of stone that has forced its way up from beneath the crust of the mesa. Lodged within a fissure, and erupting from the north flank, is a crystalline, chandelier-like shell of laminated glass linking the vertical procession to the upper lobby and entry to the theater house,” according to Kathleen McDonald, with Spencer Theater.
Predock’s poetry was cast in Spanish mica-flecked limestone, a remarkable feature that dominates the sight lines for miles. The architect’s “crystalline, chandelier-like shell” lobby was designed by computer and is composed of 300 hand-cut panes of glass. Additional elements that make the Spencer outstanding is the exterior river-like fountain, precise acoustics, multiple fly lines, a sprung stage, intimate seating, an outdoor loggia, spacious dressing rooms, green room-accessible private courtyard, and a garden amphitheater.
Even if you never went to a performance, it’s well worth the trip to go on a free, comprehensive tour of the theater. The tours are offered to the public twice weekly at 10 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday. For more information about schedules and performances, visit spencertheater.com or call 505.336.4800.
But performing arts is what Spencer Theater is all about and they always book high quality acts. Here’s their schedule for December and January.
<table><tr><td valign=top><br>
Tuesday, Dec.12. The Flying J Wrangler Cowboy Christmas Special, Christmas at the Spencer just isn’t complete without the rich, melodious vocals of The Flying J Wranglers. The multi-instrumental cowboy/western heritage music group puts on a holiday show filled with seasonal favorites. Wrapping together this Christmas present is the homespun comedy and warm stage banter for which the Wranglers are known throughout the west.
Saturday, Dec. 16 at 8pm Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. Inspired by the tremendously colorful, exhilarating atmosphere of turn-of-the-century America, “ragged-time” in its various manifestations dominated the nation’s popular music scene for more than twenty years (c.1897-1917). Many may be surprised that this highly creative era also generated a number of Christmas tunes like Oh Tannenbaum, Reindeer Rag, The Night Before Christmas and Babes In Toyland – tunes with contemporary popular twists that play throughout shopping malls most every holiday season. The leading exponent of this vintage American popular music, Rick Benjamin’s Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, performs this high energy, foot-tapping music in “‘Round the Christmas Tree.”
Wednesday & Thursday, Dec. 20 –21, 7 pm, $25 “The Nutcracker” with the Ruidoso Dance Ensemble, an outstanding local dance company with professional standards, performs this holiday classic for the second year on the Spencer stage. Under the artistic direction of Deborah Rogers, a former professional dancer with several Houston companies, this is a “Nutcracker” with assertive choreography and elegant action. It’s virtual eye-candy, not only with the pas de deux, mighty leaps, and gorgeous Tchaikovsky score, but also because of the lavish costuming and stunning special effects of the props by the Spencer’s Technical Director Bob Phaup. More than 50 area dancers, ages six to 60, will take roles. The production will again be joined by professional dancer Norbert Nirewicz, a former principal in his native country’s Polish National Opera. (Proceeds from this rental production benefit the non-profit Ruidoso Dance Ensemble.)
Monday, Jan. 15 at 8 pm Like father, like son: “Tormé Sings Tormé. The son of legendary jazz singer Mel Tormé presents a magical evening of music and memories. Steve March Tormé sings his father’s best known songs, including such hits as Lulu’s Back in Town, Mountain Greenery and of course The Christmas Song, interspersed with family photos and some never-before-seen video clips. Accompanied by a big band, there’s no question that Steve March Tormé has pops genes. Check out the Spencer website for a song list.
Saturday, Feb. 3 at 8pm, “In The Mood,” a 40’s musical-dance revue!
Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 8pm, The Moscow Festival Ballet dances “Don Quixote".</td><td width=350 valign=center><br><img src=http://sonewmex.com/banners/spencer_theater_ad.jpg align=right border=1></td></tr></table>
For tickets, reservations and more information, call 888.818.7872 or visit www.spencertheater.com (http://www.spencertheater.com/)