|Photo by Emma Delk| Capitol Theatre leadership are excited heading into a busy fall season due to improvements to the venue. From left, executive director of the Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority Kelly Tucker, Wesbanco Arena Marketing Manager Kyle Knox and production manager at the Capitol Theatre and WesBanco Arena Justin Malarkey.

WHEELING – The Capitol Theatre going dark in the summer to undergo major improvements has yielded a packed lineup for the fall that will kick off on Friday with comedian Joe Gatto’s “Let’s Get Into It” show.

The two focal points of the updates are repairs to the plasterwork on the corners of the ceiling that frame the stage and the installation of a new fly system.

While audience members on Friday can see the result of the updates if they look up at the ceiling, Wesbanco Arena Marketing Manager Kyle Knox said attendees at future shows will witness a more significant impact from the improvements in the form of “extravagant and bigger” shows at the venue.

“We have a very full schedule kicking off on Friday, and we won’t slow down,” Knox said. “There’s no doubt the upgrades here are helping us as far as the production side of things to bring a bigger, better show and quality entertainment to the Ohio Valley.”

The updates have resulted in the “busiest fall schedule” Knox has seen at the venue, with 34 shows on sale through December.

The key improvement that has allowed the theater to book more shows is the new theatrical rigging system, which can now hold between 750 to 1,000 pounds.

The old fly system could only hold 350 pounds. Justin Malarkey, production manager at the Capitol Theatre and WesBanco Arena, said acts that needed to hang more than 350 pounds would often have to modify or cut show elements to accommodate for the limited fly system.

Malarkey said that a single pipe on the old system could only hold about 350 pounds, while the new system, with 32 pipes, can now hold 1,000 pounds per pipe.

“Most active theaters have an updated fly system, so even some of the shows that were coming in, we would have to cut so many different elements that spectators weren’t given the full show,” Malarkey said. “The new fly system looks a lot nicer, but the biggest advantage for us is the increased rigging capacity for shows.”

Before the updates, Malarkey said the venue was “extremely limited” in the type of show it could book. He noted that many shows would have to cut different elements, and pieces of scenery would end up sitting outside the theater as the venue did not have the capacity to hang them.

Knox said the theater’s new ability to allow shows to “utilize their full productions” has resulted in more promoters seeking to book shows at the venue. Other performances that came to the Capitol in the past can also return to the venue in their full capacity.

According to Kelly Tucker, executive director of the Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority, the improvements have allowed the venue to book a “more diverse” array of entertainment in addition to bringing in more acts to the theater.

Other upcoming shows using the updated fly stem include “Disney Junior Tour: Let’s Play” on Oct. 10 and the “Nutcracker Christmas Ballet” on Nov. 11.

“The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays” was one show that had to be modified in the past due to the old rigging system. The show will return to the venue on Nov. 15 at full capacity.

Due to the updated fly system, Tucker said “several ballets” were now looking to book at the theater as well.

“Any of those ballet-type shows will benefit from the new fly system,” Malarkey added. “Sometimes, we used to have to rent trusses and motors just to hang everything because of our capacity restraints here. Now, shows can utilize the fly system instead.”

Regarding future bookings at the theater, Knox said the improvements would be reflected in “more expansive” Broadway shows at the Capitol. Tucker noted that concerts at the theater could also fully hang their productions, including lights, using the new fly system.

The influx of bookings for the fall will ease the theater out of a dry summer, during which the only act on the stage was Newbridge Church services. Tucker noted that though the venue had to “go dark” during the summer, the season was slower.

“We certainly could have filled the calendar with several shows during the summer, but completing these updates was very important to us,” Tucker said. “Summer is the best time for us to go dark because there are so many outdoor concerts and things happening that it was the right time to do it.”

While this summer was a major slowdown for the venue, Tucker expects the theater to be busy next summer.

“We expect shows to be playing here all through the summer next year,” Tucker said. “We’ve been looking back at the history of the theater, and this is undoubtedly one of the busiest falls for us.”

Though they will be busy with shows moving into the fall season, Knox, Malarkey and Tucker already have future updates in mind for the building. Knox noted that since the theater was built in 1928, the recent improvements were a “drop in the bucket” compared to what needed to be done.

“The Capitol Theatre does have an account at the Community Foundation (for the Ohio Valley), so we’re always appreciative of those who donate and help with that ongoing work,” Knox said. “This is another phase in the ongoing work that keeps the Capitol intact moving forward, and we always appreciate those who help out.”