The Carolina Theatre Installs New Seats in Fletcher Hall

Increased Capacity, Grand Suites, and Drink Holders Among the Improvements

Durham, NC – August 2, 2024 – The Carolina Theatre’s Fletcher Hall has been closed due to major seat renovations. The construction began on Monday, June 24, and is expected to be completed within the next week. The new seats, designed and installed by Kirwin & Simpson Seating, will replace the ones that were installed in 1994 when the theater reopened after extensive volunteer-led renovations. This improvement will accommodate a slightly larger audience capacity, Grand Suites, drink holders, and relieve some pain points for our patrons and the theater’s production crew.

Feedback surveys from almost every live event and film that takes place in the Hall have one resounding grievance: the seats. With thirty years of patron use, we retire them knowing they held the Durham community and beyond for graduation ceremonies, dance recitals, weddings, drag performances, Moogfest, film festivals, and more.

Joey Infinito, Senior Director of Facilities and Production has fixed many seats over the years and looks forward to the upgrade. “The new seats are expertly designed by Kirwin & Simpson Seating. They are modern and comfortable while retaining the historic look and feel of our nearly 100-year-old theater. Contemporary hardware and materials make them easy to maintain and offer a much more luxurious finish for our patrons.” He explains, “The project has also allowed us to resurface the floor of the auditorium and enhance our Front-Of-House audio and lighting capabilities. We’re very excited to share these upgrades with our guests!”

The improvements maintain the historic charm; the ornate end caps have been restored and the wood stain and fabric color remain the same. But a modern amenity, cupholders, has been added. Audiences have expressed frustrations of having to hold their beverage during events or spilling it after accidentally kicking it over. This welcome addition will be on the Orchestra level seats and will prevent unhappy guests and extensive cleaning for maintenance after shows.

Jana Woehrle, Senior Director of Operations expresses the value the improved seats have on the patron experience, stating, “Upgrading our theatre seats is more than just a renovation—it’s an investment in your contentment and enjoyment. With greater comfort and support, we aim to make each performance a better overall experience for every guest.”

In the lower section of Balcony One, twenty-seven Grand Suites will replace the three rows of seats there before. A Grand Suite, expected to be some of the best seats in the house, will have a small table with two seats, a special snack, bottles of water, and other select beverages. While this change will reduce the overall capacity of Balcony One, the Orchestra level will gain seats, totaling over 1,100.

Randy McKay, President & CEO, reflects on the impact the updates will have on future attendees, stating, “Not only are the new seats ergonomically designed to be far more comfortable, but the Grand Suites will provide an unparalleled level of VIP service for Carolina Theatre guests that is available nowhere else in town. The additional seating capacity and the new Grand Suites will both help the theater fund additional educational and community-based programs.”

Upon completion, some of the first patrons to test the new seats will be those attending the 29th annual OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival from August 8-15. Followed closely behind by Death of Cochise: A New Work Featuring Dasan Ahanu & Bluz on August 20, and The Wavemakers Series Curated by Rissi Palmer featuring emerging artist Madeline Edwards on September 26. The Wavemakers Series introduces underrepresented artists to Durham with songs, conversation, and an audience Q&A. Some of the artists in the series are playing on our stage, or in a hall of our size, for the first time.

We look forward to welcoming guests back in August and hope that post-event survey results will have a unanimous sentiment; these are the best seats in Durham.

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About The Carolina Theatre of Durham: 

Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which manages the city-owned Carolina Theatre at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27701. Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is dedicated to presenting vibrant, thought-provoking film and live performances that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Durham and the Triangle Region. More information at carolinatheatre.org.

Contact:  

Hanna Mercer
Senior Director of Marketing, Carolina Theatre of Durham
(919) 560-3040 | hanna@carolinatheatre.org