In honor of ASU Gammage's 50th Anniversary in 2014, we began this initiative to bring the theater into the next 50 years and beyond. This included important improvements to the building, including a new sound system installed in 2015, additional women's and ADA restrooms, and two elevators to serve every level of the theater.
Why Elevate and Alleviate?
Presently, patrons with mobility issues can only be seated at Orchestra level, in the very front and the very back. This setup limits patrons who want to see our shows but whose needs and preferences cannot be met. Two new elevators will serve all levels -- from the orchestra to the Grand Tier and upper Balcony -- granting more seating options to all of our patrons.
The long lines at the women’s restrooms have been one of the most frequent issues that patrons experience at ASU Gammage. The majority of seats in the theater are located at orchestra level -- 1,729. At that level, there are only two restrooms, both reserved for patrons with accessibility needs and the only ADA restrooms currently available in the theater. Twelve ladies restroom facilities are located on the Grand Tier level (six on either side), where 606 seats are located. Finally, there are just eight at the Balcony level (four on either side) where 682 seats are located. With currently just 20 ladies restrooms at Gammage to accommodate up to 3,017 patrons (many of whom are women,) lines can stretch all the way down the ramp, with wait times even preventing women from returning to their seats in time for the show to resume after a typical 15-minute intermission.
The plans we aim to achieve will add 70 new ladies and ADA restrooms on both sides of the Orchestra and Grand Tier levels. This will have a tremendous impact on cutting wait times and enhancing all our patrons' experiences at the theater.
“I’ve always thought the longest lines at ASU Gammage should be reserved for the actors on stage and not for our patrons trying to use the restroom. Now with the support of our patrons that will soon be the case,” says Peter Means, Senior Director of Development at ASU Gammage.
The Show Must Go On
The ingenuity of this project is its foresight and vision. The restrooms and elevators will be constructed as part of one simultaneous project. This allows us to save money and time by creating a cohesive solution to two persistent challenges. Construction will not interrupt regular season performances. During construction, we will continue to serve our community with arts experiences and generate operating revenue while planning for the future with this transformational improvement.
ASU Gammage operates on a self-sustaining business model, funding our operations through earned ticket revenue and philanthropic investment. Such an important and bold vision as this project could not be realized without the financial support of the individuals and communities we serve. Your contribution will help these two new elevators and 70 new ladies and ADA restrooms become a reality at ASU Gammage and improve everyone's experience at the theater for generations to come.
This gift represents the number of years Gammage has thrived since its first performance.
This gift represents the number of public events at ASU Gammage in 2015: Broadway performances, ASU convocations, and everything in-between!
This gift represents the number of Broadway shows Gammage has presented since 1990.
This gift represents the average number of people who might use the restroom during a typical Gammage event.