Hiatus for One of New York's Grandest Party Venues

The New York State Theater's Promenade, set for a party Just as the Plaza Hotel Ballroom's come back on line -- the latest word has the return scheduled for late spring -- New York party lovers will lose of its grandest venues, but again, only temporarily. The New York State Theater will close over the summer and through the fall of 2008, returning for the opening night of New York City Ballet's season, on November 25, 2008. The ballet's "Dance with the Dancers" in early June 2008 will therefore be the last big bash in the space before it undergoes changes. Opening night of New York City Opera's 08 season, and all the Lincoln Center Festival events that are typically held at the New York State Theater, will be held elsewhere. However, we're assured that Philip Johnson's original design for the theater and auditorium will be maintained, meaning that the Promenade, where most parties are held, will still have Elie Nadelman's sculptures and the ornate balcony above them. New seats and carpets, an enlarged orchestra pit with a mechanical lift, a new stage lighting system, and new audiovisual and media capabilities are aspects of the renovation agreed to by the boards of the New York City Ballet and the New York City Opera. "We are extraordinarily pleased to be underway on a plan to make the State Theater an even more welcoming and satisfying environment for all of our audiences, and to be able to do so by Fall 2009, the beginning of the first season to be planned by Gerard Mortier, City Opera's General Manager-Designate," said the chairwoman of New York City Opera, Susan Baker, in a statement. Here's more from the press release: The New York State Theater will be closed following New York City Ballet's spring 2008 season, which concludes on June 29, and again during a portion of the City Opera's spring 2009 season to accommodate construction. New York City Ballet's 2008/2009 winter schedule, which will begin with the Company's annual Opening Night Benefit on Tuesday, November 25, will not be affected, nor will New York City Ballet's spring 2009 season. New York City Opera is currently planning a non-traditional 2008-2009 season which may include operas in concert, semi-staged productions, educational outreach as well as its annual showcase of VOX: Showcasing American Composers, produced at various venues in the city. Actual plans for the 2008-2009 season will be announced in February 2008.