| Opened
in 1973, E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, on the campus of the University of Akron, was a
delightful addition to the university and the city. Over the course of four decades, E.J
Thomas Performing Arts Hall has brought the finest entertainers and shows to Akron. It
opened the door for the kind of entertainment Akron had not been able to attract since the
1930s and 1940s. The 125,000 square foot hall is flexible to fit the audience, with three
different seating arrangements made possible by a movable ceiling that is counter balanced
with large silver cylinders hanging in the main lobby. The auditorium seats 3,000 with the
ceiling at full height, 2,400 with it at the front edge of the flying balcony, and 800
when the grand tier is entirely closed off by the movable ceiling. |
