On Tour
One of my favorite things in life is to give a tour of the Hylton Center 鈥 to anyone. Over the years I鈥檝e lost count of the number of tours (and tourists 鈥 tourers?), but telling the story of this great place never gets old. For one thing, my own spirits are lifted whenever I walk through the doors, and so it feels fresh every time I tell the story of the 4th grader coming in from a yellow school bus, entering the building for what I can only imagine was the first time, looking up, pausing in wonder, and then turning to her peers with an excited, infectious smile.聽
Based on my observation of that moment (and the many retellings), I鈥檝e constructed an inner monologue for that student that goes something like this: 鈥淲ow. This place is really beautiful. I鈥檝e never seen a place like this. And it鈥檚 in my hometown. My hometown must be a special place to have a place like this. My hometown must really care about me to build a place like this for me to come see a (play) (concert) (show) in.鈥澛
I love standing on the mezzanine level overlooking the Didlake Grand Foyer and describing all the architectural inspirations that make the Hylton Center unique, and how they function subliminally but powerfully to create a feeling of shared community as audiences mingle in an environment designed specifically for them. I love walking through the theaters and shops and rehearsal rooms (especially in the new Education and Rehearsal Wing, with its signature spaces, the soaring Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall and the lovely Ballard Postma Studio). Each room has a story, of mission and purpose and design and functionality.
But the building itself tells an even bigger story, and it鈥檚 the story of civic vision over several decades. It鈥檚 the story of political foresight and bipartisan action (starting with Kathleen Seefeldt of Prince William County and Marvin Gillum of the City of Manassas; and with Chuck Colgan and Harry Parrish working their magic in Richmond); with George Mason leaders like Randall Edwards, Alan Merten, and Bill Reeder; and with myriad local supporters, many of whose gifts are memorialized throughout the building (such as those mentioned above as well as Merchant and Gregory, who named our two theaters).
Now I wish I could give each of you the full private tour 鈥 I鈥檝e got versions that take 20, 40, and 60 minutes depending on your appetite for detail and the kind of shoes you鈥檙e wearing that day 鈥 but I鈥檓 working on some ideas for a 鈥渂ehind the scenes with the Dean鈥 opportunity this fall. Stay tuned for details.
Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of your summer, which I hope includes a little more touring. See you soon in one or all of these beautiful spaces!
Rick Davis
Dean and Executive Director