A Guanajuato theater that dates back to the late 18th century is scheduled to reopen again in August after a seven-month renovation.
The work on Guanajuato’s Teatro Principal, or Main Theater, is 70% complete and is to be ready to accommodate the Festival Internacional Cervantino next fall.
The project is expected to cost 11.8 million pesos (US $651,000), which will be split evenly between the University of Guanajuato and the federal government.
Guanajuato’s Teatro Principal first opened in the late 1700s (Photo: OEM)
Work includes cleaning up the green cantera rock on the theater’s facade, a structural appraisal of the building, the rehabilitation of the auditorium, new carpeting and a new curtain for the main stage.
“Inside the building we’re currently modernizing the restrooms, replacing the flooring and wooden doors, and installing supplementary electrical wiring,” said the university’s director of infrastructure.
“A new 20,000-liter water cistern will be connected to the fire protection system, and closed circuit TV, a drop ceiling and air conditioning system will also be installed,” added Eloy Juárez Sandoval. “An audio-video system that will permit live streaming of events will also be among the new features”.
The representative of a federal fund for cultural infrastructure told the newspaper Milenio that it was decided to fund the renovation of the Teatro Principal given the venue’s relevance.
“Its restoration was deemed a strategic infrastructure project, and so we decided to support it,” said Mirna Osiris Ortiz Cuevas.
The 476-seat facility dates back to the late 1700s when the Corral de Comedias opened it doors.
After the Mexican Revolution of 1910 it was turned into a cinema. After a fire in 1929 it was closed and remained so until the 1950s, when it was completely rebuilt as a theater.
It was reinaugurated in September 1955 with the name Teatro Principal, with its characteristic art deco architectural elements.
It was designated the official venue of the Festival Internacional Cervantino since the event’s first year, in 1972.
The 45th festival will be hosted by the theater and Guanajuato from October 11-29.
Source: Mexico News Daily
