By Rose Picón, staff writer

From its talented actors to its sensational performances and its acclaim in theater associations across the country, Syracuse Stage is truly a treasure of the community. For years, however, Syracuse Stage’s plaza hasn’t exactly matched its excellent reputation. Jeff Woodward, managing director, admits, “It just didn’t look good. The plaza was decaying; people had to step over the cracks in the sidewalk. It did not represent Syracuse Stage or SU Drama.”

Fortunately, Syracuse Stage sits prominently on the Connective Corridor, an art and cultural route that connects University Hill with the downtown, and its plaza has been part of the planned improvements along the Corridor for some time. Last year, Marilyn Higgins, vice president of Syracuse University’s Office of Community Engagement and Economic Development, and Robbi Farschman, who oversees the Corridor on behalf of the University, reached out to UPSTATE:, a center for design, research and real estate founded by the School of Architecture, to be the lead designer on the project.

Joe Sisko, UPSTATE’s assistant director and the plaza’s designer, wanted the design to be centered in the notion of urban performance. “We wanted to put the city on display,” Sisko explains, “and transform the pedestrians into actors in a way that amplifies the Corridor.” To ‘set the stage,’ Sisko’s layout includes panels with light sensors that will detect motion. In all, there will be eight mesh screens, fabricated with stainless steel and LED lighting that will dot the perimeter of the plaza. Paul Gelling, chief engineer of SenSyr, the company that has created the panels, shares that LED lights are very efficient and will last about five years before they have to be changed. (That’s about 55,000 hours of energy!)

SenSyr is also producing pavers that will emit varying levels of sound, depending on how much weight is put on them. Gelling explains, “The plaza will kind of be like the giant keyboard that Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia play in the movie Big. It should be really neat!” Equally important, these interactive elements will encourage individuals to bring color, sound and creativity to the Connective Corridor.

Multifunctionality is also key to furthering the idea of community within public space. Performers from Syracuse Stage can utilize the space for open-air theater, SU Drama can host outdoor classes, and anyone in the community may gather on one-of-a-kind benches to enjoy the scenes. Sisko notes, “We want people to feel the plaza is playful and consider how they can use it.”

Soon, Syracuse Stage will have a plaza unlike any other in the region!  First sounds? Since its completion coincides with Stage’s production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, visitors can expect audio stimulation of a similar nature. So, come play on the plaza and then take in a classic at Syracuse Stage. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will run from November 25-December 21, and ticket information can be found here. Syracuse Stage is located at 820 E. Genesee St. and is on the Connective Corridor bus route, a FREE service!