LOBBY RESTORATION

During 1997 the Manistee Art Institute and Ramsdell Theatre Restoration Project raised funds and managed restoration of the theatre lobby in memory of longtime Civic Player and theatre supporter Anne Wittig. The restored lobby was dedicated to Anne during a special ceremony on January 11, 1998.

AnnWittig.jpg (15808 bytes)

Portrait of Anne S. Wittig
Deborah Guenther

This lobby has been faithfully restored to its original condition in fond memory of
ANNE S. WITTIG
Who gave unselfishly of her many talents to the theatre arts in the community.  She served as an accomplished
Acrtess, director and Civic Players board member for many years, always dedicated to improvement of the Ramsdell Theatre and the performance therein.
(DEDICATION PLAQUE)

 

Anne Wittig served 21 terms between 1953 and 1985 on the Manistee Civic Players Board of Directors -- including 1964 as vice-president and 1971, 1972 and 1973 as secretary. She was in the cast of her first Ramsdell play, "For Love or Money" in 1951. She was either in the cast or production staff of another 51 shows at the theatre from that time until her appearance in "A Day at the Ramsdell -- A Night on Broadway" in 1993.

Restoration included a discovery program to determine the precise colors and paint patterns used during initial lobby construction. Art restoration included conservation, cleaning and restoration of the two lobby lunettes originally painted by Frederic Ramsdell, son of theatre builder T. J. Ramsdell. The restored lobby appears exactly as it did in 1903 when the theatre opened with the "Chinese Honeymoon".

 Lobby photos:

RestoredLunette.jpg (10159 bytes)
Lunette Painting by Frederic Ramsdell

RestoredLunette1.jpg (12243 bytes)
Lunette Painting by Frederic Ramsdell

Lobby.jpg (17807 bytes)
Portion of  Lobby