Cutting Hall relocates shows as fire cleanup gets underway
About 15 minutes before the final performance of LZP Productions' run of “Gypsy” ended Sunday at Palatine's historic Cutting Hall, power went out in the community theater and could only be partially restored.
Never doubting that the show must go on, the cast finished unassisted by microphones or spotlights. No one realized the stage would remain dark for a while.
An electrical fire broke out the following morning, destroying the theater coordinator's office and causing heavy smoke and water damage to the lobby.
Though the 430-seat auditorium sustained only minimal smoke exposure, several community theater and music groups that call Cutting Hall home were left scrambling this week to find alternate venues.
“This is a huge disappointment for us because we have a super concert planned,” Bob Clough of the Palatine Concert Band said.
The group's performance features vocal selections by Marc Singley, who sings the national anthem at Chicago Bulls games. The show now will take place at 8 p.m. Sunday at Palatine High School, 1111 N. Rohlwing Road.
Acting Up Youth Theater also moved its Thursday performance of “Arf” to the Palatine Township Senior Center, and the Class Act Youth Theater will put on “Night at the Wax Museum” at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Fremd High School, 1000 S. Quentin Road.
Though the fire was under control within 10 minutes, Cutting Hall, which held its first performance in 1928, will stay shuttered for at least a couple more weeks. Crews have started repair work, including patching up a hole in the roof made by firefighters battling the blaze.
“We call it one of the jewels of our park district,” Palatine Park District Executive Director Ron Gbur said. “Others may have big indoor swimming pools or modern athletic complexes, but Cutting Hall is part of what makes us special.”
The fire department has yet to rule on a cause, and investigators didn't tell Gbur whether they believed the fire was related to the previous night's power outage. They estimated damage at more than $60,000.
For Libby Louiseau, the longest-standing member of the Palatine Concert Band, Cutting Hall has been a second home for the last 50 years. The former Palatine High School auditorium doubled as a study hall when she was a freshman in 1960.
“This was right before Fremd was built, so there was overcrowding,” said Louiseau, who recalls watching classmate and former Mayor Rita Mullins perform the lead in a school play. “We'd walk in, pick up a lapboard and sit in those theater seats.”
She later met her husband, Stan Louiseau, while playing string bass in the adult concert band, which boasts about 80 members. They've played dozens of concerts since the park district bought Cutting Hall in 1977.
“Especially after the last renovation about 10 years ago, they did such a gorgeous job of capturing the spirit of the ‘20s era,” said Libby Louiseau, who worked as an orchestra teacher in Palatine Township Elementary District 15 schools for 35 years. “It's a cultural hub for countless groups.”
For more information on the locations of upcoming Cutting Hall shows, go to palatineparks.org or call (847) 991-0333 ext. 243.