The Center for the Arts is
located on the third floor of the Facemakers
Incorporated building, at 800 Chicago
Avenue in Savanna, IL. The building, originally the Avenue
School, was slated for demolition until Mr. and Mrs. St.
George purchased it in 1988.
The first and second floors
of the building are occupied by Facemakers Incorporated,
the largest manufacturer of animal and mascot costumes in
the United States. The third floor, originally a music room,
was converted into the Center and contains a full stage and
auditorium, changing and makeup rooms, scene shop, prop room
and costume room.
Redecorated in an 1890 motif,
the Center has a full proscenium, two skylights and a decorative
tin ceiling. Seating in the theater is unattached so that
the space can be used for other events such as art exhibits.
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| How to
find the Art
Center — or click the map to jump to
a Google map. |
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| The Facemakers
Incorporated Building at 800 Chicago Avenue. |
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The stained
glass window sign for the Center. This appears on the
third floor
of the Facemakers Incorporated building. |
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| The
entryway to the Center, featuring a fountain with a
Triton and a stained glass illuminated sign (created
by Adrianne St. George). |
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| The
stained glass transom window over the entrance to the
Center. |
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| The
floor plan for the Center. |
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| Alan
St. George welcoming guests at the Center's entrance. |
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| The
Center's stage, featuring an elegant proscenium and
classic Comedy and Tragedy masks. At the back of the
stage is a screen for projection effects. |
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| A closeup
view of the proscenium, decorated in faux black marble
and gilt trim. |
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A
closeup of the proscenium's Comedy and Tragedy masks,
modeled
on the face of Adrianne St. George.
The comedy and
tragedy masks have their origin in the theatre of
ancient Greece. The masks were used to show the emotions
of the characters in a play, and to allow actors
to switch between roles and play characters of a
different gender. |
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| A 3/4
view of the Comedy and Tragedy masks. |
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| The
proscenium and the Juliet balcony. |
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| A view
of the right side of the house, from the back. The
Center is decorated in elegant blue and burgundy Victorian-style
wallpaper with a faux black marble dado and gilt trim. |
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| The
right side of the house, as viewed from the stage. |
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The
stained glass ceiling of the Center, designed by
Adrianne St. George.
Adrianne St. George's face was
painted by her husband on the moon in the lower left
corner. |
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| A view
from the Center's parapet during a performance of Remembering
Mario Lanza, performed by Thomas Booth. |
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| After
a performance, guests are invited to dine from a sumptuous
buffet. |
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| The
apre-performance champagne table. |
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| The
punch table, featuring Mrs. St. George's silver punch
bowls and cups. |
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| The
coffee service. |
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The
Reception Room and its crystal table.
The room also
features a collection of Mrs. St. George's dolls. |
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| After
a performance, Alan St. George mingles with the guests. |
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