The Wheeler Opera House is preparing for a busy season with a month-long closure for improvements.
The biggest project taking place is a complete replacement of the orchestra seating.
Gena Buhler, the executive director of the Wheeler, said the standard theater seat lasts around 10 to 12 years. The chairs were last replaced in 2006, so they are past due for an upgrade.
Other projects include painting and wall repairs.
Buhler said this is all part of the Wheeler’s long-term capital improvement plan. She said because the building is operational most of the year, some annual down time must be planned to keep the building in top form.
The Wheeler re-opens the first week of June with the production “NU-TOPIA,” a dance and acrobatic performance, celebrating the musical messages of The Beatles.