That theatrical adage has inspired several Kansas towns and cities to begin restoration projects on theaters and opera houses that have been under-used or dormant for decades.

On Saturday, students of Jim Dubois' fifth-year interior architecture studio presented their semester projects, each of which focused on proposals for rehabilitating six historic Kansas theaters. The presentations, followed by an awards luncheon, created a time for students to reflect and talk with design professionals and theater representatives about their projects.

The projects ranged from such large theaters as the Jayhawk Theatre in Topeka to the Grainfield Opera House in western Kansas. In some cases, students were working within distinct parameters and with specific objectives. In other cases, as in Grainfield, the field was left open for a new vision.

Melissa Sturgeon, fifth-year senior in interior architecture, said this was the first project she's done in historic preservation. She developed a scheme for the Jayhawk Theatre, working independently in a group of three other students working on the same theater.

"We can really see this project is going to be built," Sturgeon said. "I'm excited to see what's going to be done."

Sturgeon said the main thrust of the project entailed establishing a program, which requires a demographic study, site information, history, an existing conditions study, code and regulation research and project goals.

"We tried to focus most of our time on the design," she said.

In the next two weeks, the students will create a cost estimate and then present their designs to the proponents of the various theaters.

Doug Jernigan, a Topeka veterinarian and a board member of the Jayhawk, said the students have been a big help with the project.

"The big advantage is they don't come in with any of the perceived realities of the project," Jernigan said. "They can see things with a fresh perspective. The second advantage is it's fun."

The Jayhawk, which opened in 1926, has a rich history including performances by Laurel and Hardy, the debut of Gypsy Rose Lee, and several political announcements, including Alf Landon's presidential bid. The adjacent Jayhawk Towers is a Topeka landmark, having been among other things the site of Jim Slattery's announcement for his bid for governor in 1994.

Jernigan, who is a 1970 K-State graduate, said the board hoped to use the students' work to show the mayor's office, the Jayhawk's downtown neighbors and the Topeka media the ins and outs of the project goals. He said a significant fund-raising campaign will not begin until six or eight months down the road.

Contrasting with the splendor of the 1,500-seat Jayhawk, the main street storefront quality of the Grainfield Opera House presents an entirely different set of design circumstances.

Jeff Barnes, fifth-year senior in interior architecture, said he and the other students assigned to Grainfield were literally working from the ground up.

"It was basically up in the air about what you could do," Barnes said.

The Grainfield is a three-story structure that is in bad condition mostly because a former owner stripped its architecture and sold it off. The Grainfield Lions Club bought the theater and is working to restore it.

Barnes said support for the theater isn't too wide, although he thinks it will increase as more is accomplished on the project.

Other theater projects by the students include the Granada Fox Theatre in Emporia, the Blair Theatre in Belleville, the Plaza Theatre in Abilene and the Rex Theatre in Clay Center.

The projects were part of a semester-long program, "Renewing Historic Kansas Theaters," that involved the students, the Kansas Preservation Alliance, the Kansas Chapter of the League of Historic American Theaters and statewide preservation leaders.

Three jurors judged the projects Saturday and awards were given at the luncheon. First prize went to Greg Nelson (Jayhawk), second to Jim Lehman (Grainfield) and third to Travis Key (Rex).

Dubois, associate professor of interior architecture, saw the projects as visions. He spoke at the luncheon to the students as well as several representatives of theater projects.

"That's the main intent we are trying to do with these communities. That's all we can do - provide a vision," Dubois said. "What that theater might be, not what it will be. Hopefully, 10 years down the road students will be able to travel to your communities and see a live performance."

More words of wisdom to the students were given by Malcolm Holzman, a juror and principal of the New York firm Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer, which recently completed a successful renovation of Disney's 42nd Street Theater in New York.

"The people of Kansas are really quite fortunate because these structures still live even though they might not be used," Holzman said. "You've reflected on the cultural history of these communities."   

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