Race to opening night; Hanover Theatre getting finishing touches.

Byline: Shaun Sutner

WORCESTER - Black tie and hard hats, anyone?

Officials of the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts insist protective headgear won't be necessary at the opening night gala March 14, even though the downtown construction site at Federal Square still is a work in progress.

Workers are racing to complete the $30 million renovation of the Hanover showcase in time for the grand opening performance of actor and singer Bernadette Peters and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra.

Yesterday, four bucket cranes and more than a dozen workers were busy outside the 82-year-old former Poli Palace Theater, laying red brick and granite paving stones, insulating the new marquee, readying the main lobby and working on the old historic marquee.

Inside, a few dozen more tradesmen were at work, and construction materials and debris were visible from the street.

Troy Siebels, the nonprofit theater's executive director, said work is slightly behind schedule, particularly because of delays caused by getting historic preservation approval from the National Park Service for the color of the paint to be applied to the old marquee.

While the project is on budget, the $2 million contingency account for last-minute overruns and additions has been all but exhausted, Mr. Siebels said.

"There's always punch-list stuff," Mr. Siebels said, referring to final details of the construction project. "But there won't be anything on opening night that looks unfinished. The interior and lobby of the theater are going to be as grand as they will ever be and the stage is going to be there."

So far, most of the inside work is done, Mr. Siebels said. All the balcony seats have been installed, along with two-thirds of the orchestra seating. Bathrooms are finished and working, and the chandeliers and drapery have been hung.

Carpets are going in this week, and state inspectors are scheduled to be on hand by the end of the week to inspect the building's two elevators.

Meanwhile, plans are in place to upgrade the small park and municipal parking garage across the street from the theater, but much work apparently still needs to be done.

The city has budgeted $300,000 to upgrade the 600-spot garage, 400 spots of which will be used by the theater for performances.

New lights have been installed in the aging Federal Square garage and some defective ceiling tiles in the lobby have been replaced.

However, the elevator doors and floors have yet to be cleaned and deodorized, and elevator ceiling tiles need to be replaced. The garage stairwells also are slated for an overhaul, including steam cleaning, chemical deodorization and scraping and painting.

Also still to be done by March 14 is power washing of the sidewalks and bus shelter in front of the garage, window washing, sweeping of parking decks, washing and sealing the lobby floors, and extensive cleaning around the entrances, exits and booths, according to city officials.

As for the small triangular park in front of the theater entrance, some changes have been made - including a new walkway and removal of broken down benches and trash bins - but more remains, according to Mr. Siebels.

Some of it is expected to be done by opening night, while more extensive work such as renovation of the dilapidated cast iron fountain, will likely wait for the summer.

As the physical aspects of the theater fall into place, ticket sales have been brisk for the two-week opening celebration slate of theater and musical performances at the 2,300-seat theater, Mr. Siebels said.

For example, tickets for the Broadway show ``Hairspray" are nearly sold out, with only single seats still available.

Tickets for ``Jesus Christ Superstar" are also going fast and the show is also expected to sell out.

As for the grand opening, 1,600 membership tickets have already been sold.

Another 600 were put up for sale this week. They are going quickly, Hanover officials said.

Contact Shaun Sutner by e-mail at [e-mail].

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The funds: The project is on budget, but the $2 million contingency account for last-minute overruns and additions has been all but exhausted.

The tickets: As the physical aspects of the theater fall into place, ticket sales have been brisk for the two-week opening celebration slate of performances at the 2,300-seat theater.

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ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Wayne C. Archambault of Wrentham installs the main chandelier yesterday at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts. The chandelier has more than 6,000 crystals. (2) Above, workers yesterday put finishing touches on the lobby at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester. The grand opening for the theatre is March 14. (3) At right, work on the facade continues.

PHOTOG: (1, 2) T&G Staff/TOM RETTIG (3) T&G Staff/CHRIS CHRISTO