Articles on the rebuilding of the Academy of Music

     “The New Academy.—Our readers doubtless share the general desire to know all they can hear about the new Academy, which is being slowly, but surely built. A semi-official announcement says that the superficial area will not be reduced by so much as a foot, as the number of desirable seats within the auditorium will be greater than before. The lobbies and the auditorium are to be much wider, likewise the doorways between the lobbies and the auditorium, and the aisles leading through the balcony and parquet, the box-tier and the family circle. The reduction in the height of the auditorium will be about 12 feet. The capacity of the family circle will be increased, and 300 seats added, and also that of the balcony, while the parquet is to be reduced to the extent of 120 chairs. Between the dress-circle or box-tier and the family circle, in the new design, a row of Mezzanine boxes is introduced, the approaches to which are by a couple of staircases from the lobby on the second story. These Mezzanine boxes are separated from each other, and are in the middle of the two tiers. The dimensions of the stage are to be unchanged, but the plan of the dressing appartments [sic], green-room, property-room, etc., is greatly improved. The following dimensions are designed for the different tiers, halls and apartments: On the basement floor there is a banqueting room 108 feet long by 20 wide, and an outer hall of about the same proportions, which can, if occasion demand, be used for banqueting purposes, in connection with the other apartment. In the centre of the house is the wine-room, and, to the right and left, kitchens and pantries, more conviently [sic] arranged than in the old building. A staircase on either side leads to the first floor, about on a level with the street, and this is divided into—

1. The vestibule, 50 feet by 12.

2. The ground lobby, (about) 90 feet by 15.

3. The ticket offices and Director’s rooms, at either side.

4. Two outer stairways to box tier.

5. Two inner stairways to box tier.

6. The balcony, containing 484 seats (seven rows.)

7. The parquet, containing 436 seats.

8. Six proscenium boxes, of which two measure 10 feet by 9, two 5 feet by 9, and two 11 feet by 9.

9. The stage, 46 feet by 70.

10. The orchestra, 12 feet by 40.

11. The lateral lobbies, each about 8 and 10 feet wide by 75 long.

12. Artists’ rooms and green-rooms adjoining stage.

The divisions of the dress circle tier are:

1. Saloon, with dressing-rooms connected, measuring about 50 feet by 17.

2. Lobby, 54 feet by 16.

3. Three rows of double boxes, 75 in number, and accommodating from 4 to 6 persons.

4. Six proscenium boxes, accommodating 4 and 8 persons.

5. Stairways right and left leading to the single row of Mezzanine boxes, which are double, 6 feet by 5, and 23 in number. The upper tier, or family circle, is approached by a broad staircase from the Irving-place entrance, and by a spiral iron staircase near the stage door on Fourteenth-street. The aggregate seating capacity of the theatre will be about two thousand four hundred, with room for seven or eight hundred standers. The horse-shoe shape of the auditorium will be removed for the purpose of improving the view from every section. The box tier is supported by twelve 9-inch iron columns, planted behind the fifth row of balcony seats. These are the only columns within the auditorium. The proscenium boxes, three on each side, will be ornamented with carved work. The carving alone is estimated to cost $9,000. There will be three aisles of five feet in width leading through the balcony and parquetted, and four additional passages through the balcony, each four feet wide. The principal doors between the lobbies and auditorium are six feet wide. The chairs in the parquet and balcony will be wider than heretofore.

     Mr. Maretzek will inaugurate the Academy as soon as it can be opened, and the Directors trust that this will not be very far along in the coming Winter.”

     “The Academy of Music is expected to be ready for the opening about the 16th of January next. The superficial area of the new edifice will not be reduced by so much as a foot, and the number of desirable seats within the auditorium will be, if anything, greater than before. The lobbies are to be much wider, likewise the doorways between the lobbies and the auditorium, and also the aisles leading through the balcony and parquet, the box tier and the family circle. The reduction in the height of the auditorium will be about twelve feet. The capacity of the family circle will be great increased (about three hundred seats being added), and also that of the balcony, while the parquet is to be reduced to the extent of one hundred and twenty chairs. Between the box circle or box tier and the family circle, in the new design, a row of Mezzonine [sic] boxes is introduced, the approaches to which are by a couple of staircases from the lobby on the second story. These boxes will be a novelty to Americans. The dimensions of the stage are to be unchanged, but the plan of the dressing apartments, green room, property room, &c; has undergone very important modifications. On the basement floor there is a banqutting [sic] room, 108 feet long by 20 wide, and an outer hall of about the same proportions, which can, if occasion demand, be used for banqueting purposes in connection with the other apartment. Towards the center of the house is the wine room, and to the right and left kitchens and pantries more conveniently arranged than in the old building. A broad staircase on either side conducts us to the first floor, about on a level with the street, and which is divided into the vestibule, 50 feet by 12; the ground lobby (about) 60 feet by 15; the ticket offices and the director’s rooms at either side; two outer stairways to box tier; two inner stairways to box tier; the balcony, containing 484 seats (7 rows); the parquet, containing 486 seats; six proscenium boxes, of which two measure 10 feet by 9, two 5 feet by 9, and two 11 feet by 9; the stage, 46 feet by 70; the orchestra, 12 feet by 4; the lateral lobbies, each about 8 and 10 feet wide by 75 long; artists’ rooms and green rooms adjoining stage. The divisions of the dress circle and tier are:—Saloon, with dressing rooms connecting, measuring about 50 feet by 17; lobby, 54 feet by 16; three rows of double boxes, 75 in number, and accommodating from 4 to 6 persons; six proscenium boxes, to the single row of Mezzonine boxes, which are double, six feet by five, and twenty-three in number. The upper tier, or family circle, is approached by a broad staircase from the Irving Place entrance, and by a spiral iron staircase near the stage door on Fourteenth street. The aggregate seating capacity of the theatre will be about two thousand and four hundred, with abundant room for seven or eight hundred standers or promenaders. The behind the fifth row of balcony seats [sic]. These are the only columns within the auditorium, which originally possessed a perfect forest of gnarled, gilt, and white oaks. The proscenium boxes, three on each side, will be ornamented with carved work. There will be three aisles of five feet in width leading through the balcony, each four feet wide. The principal doors between the lobbies and auditorium are to be six feet wide. An improved and larger pattern of orchestra and balcony fixed chairs will be introduced.”