HUNTSVILLE – Called a major step for Huntsville’s performing arts community, Von Braun Center officials announced the completion of a $15.3 million renovation and expansion to the Mark C. Smith Concert Hall – the first significant enhancement to the venue’s backstage areas since it opened in 1975.
“This expansion represents a major step forward for the Von Braun Center and for Huntsville’s thriving performing arts community,” said VBC Executive Director Steve Maple. “For fifty years, the Concert Hall has hosted unforgettable performances that have shaped the cultural life of our city. These new backstage spaces ensure we’re ready for the next 50 – providing the level of hospitality and functionality today’s touring productions expect.”
Maples said the improvements could be a prelude to iconic Broadway shows like “Phantom of the Opera” or “The Lion King” playing in Huntsville.
In fact, Maples said representatives from the “Phantom of the Opera” production in New York traveled to Huntsville to review the concert hall and recommend enhancements.
The project, designed by Matheny Goldmon Architecture + Interiors and constructed by Turner Construction, modernizes and expands essential behind-the-scenes spaces that support the VBC’s world-class performances and touring productions.
“This is a tremendous investment in Huntsville’s arts infrastructure,” said Dr. Bill Sullins, VBC Board Chair. “The Mark C. Smith Concert Hall has long been a cornerstone of cultural life in North Alabama, and these renovations ensure the facilities backstage now match the quality of what audiences experience in the hall.”
The renovation was prompted by an executive-led audit of the Concert Hall five years ago and follows improvements completed in 2021 with support from the Linda Smith Family Foundation. That investment allowed the venue to attract larger and more elaborate touring productions.
The latest project builds on that vision, providing artists and crews with a state-of-the-art backstage environment that enhances both production efficiency and performer experience.
“It has always been our family’s hope that the Mark C. Smith Concert Hall would remain a world-class home for the performing arts in Huntsville,” said Linda Smith, longtime supporter of the arts and widow of the hall’s namesake. “These renovations honor my late husband’s legacy and give future generations the space they need to create, collaborate, and perform at the highest level.”
The project expands the Concert Hall’s backstage area from 4,300 square feet to more than 17,000 square feet, adding:
- Six private dressing rooms, including a new Star Dressing Room with Green Room suite
- Four chorus dressing rooms with upgraded restrooms and laundry areas
- Two new Green Room suites and a dedicated production office with private meeting space
- Crew resting areas and road case storage for more efficient load-ins and load-outs
- Tasting room, dining room, and expanded catering kitchen with basement-level storage and service elevator
- Expanded loading docks, increasing from two to five, including a new overhead door for large set deliveries
Front-of-house enhancements include flooring, wall coverings, paint, and energy-efficient lighting throughout patron corridors, concourses, lobbies, lounges, and mezzanine areas.
“This renovation is a game-changer,” said Andrew Willmon, executive director of Broadway Theatre League. “It allows us to better serve touring productions, performers, and technical crews – which directly translates into a smoother experience for our audiences.”
The Mark C. Smith Concert Hall serves as home to several resident arts organizations, including the Broadway Theatre League and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.
“We’re thrilled to see the backstage areas brought to a modern standard,” said Dan Halcomb, CEO of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. “This improvement will have a lasting impact on the symphony’s ability to present performances at the highest level and attract top-tier talent to Huntsville.”
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