Insider staff
Between driving around for stories, typing away at our desks and watching TV at home, our behinds are firmly planted somewhere for many hours each day.
You could even consider us as sitting professionals. And there’s nothing worse than an uncomfortable seat. It makes the whole experience a real pain in the butt – literally.
So when we heard the Friends of the Audi voted to redo all 850 seats in the Concord City Auditorium, we couldn’t wait to take one for a spin.
And you too can try them out. As of right now, only the front row of seats in the center section near the stage are done, along with a few in the back of the orchestra (which is what they call the floor level).
“So people can see what we’re going to do,” said Merwyn Bagan, the Friends of the Audi treasurer.
But don’t worry, the rest will get done – it will just take time. Because like all of the Audi projects in recent memory, fundraising dollars is what will make it a reality.
The project will cost about $100,000, as each seat will be about $104 to redo; add in the contingency and it makes it about a six-figure investment.
But this isn’t a tear it all up kind of deal where the Audi will be closed for a long period of time. The seat configuration isn’t changing – just the place where your bottom sits.
“We wanted to keep the historic seats and just redo the cushions,” Bagan said.
So Bartholomew Contract Interiors out of Connecticut will take out each seat, retie the springs, cover them in burlap, add two inches of ultra foam padding and wrap in maroon naugahyde. The swivels are getting some much needed lubrication and new seat number plates will be added.
The seats are from 1927, so it’s about time for a little TLC, don’t you think?
“There are some seats that are very unstable,” Bagan said.
The Friends already paid for the naugahyde, which needed to be ordered all at once to make sure the color is consistent.
Now it’s all about fundraising and applying for grants.
So if you take in a show, you can make a donation of any amount. Your rear end will thank you.
