During a dormant period of nearly two decades the building greatly deteriorated and suffered extensive water damage. A major restoration project in the 1980s worked to retain and dramatically enhance the building's historic appearance. Without detracting from the prime aesthetics of the building, a new power flying system has been installed to automate the theatre's existing scenery bars, enabling a much quicker turnaround for performances.
The venue is now equipped with 32 BigTow winches and controlled from an Acrobat control console. The power flying system eliminates the use of counterweight cradles, improving the theatre's health & safety backstage. Stage Technologies were working with New York based installation company Pook Diemont & Ohl on this project.
James Kehoe, head carpenter at Brooklyn Academy of Music, commented: "The Brooklyn Academy of Music's Harvey Theatre has taken a quantum leap into the new theatre technology. I believe that this system will render traditional counterweight fly systems obsolete."
(Jim Evans)
