The former Ocala City Auditorium has been gutted and will be reopening as the Reilly Arts Center. Located in the Northeast corner of Tuscawilla Park and hosting more than 700 seats, the center will server as a cultural anchor for the area, hosting theater performances, as well as the Ocala Symphony Orchestra.
The Arts Center has kept a few architectural elements from the original auditorium, but the majority of the building is new. There will also be an outdoor stage, as well as the indoor stage in the main building.
The overall cost for the transformation from the Ocala City Auditorium to the Reilly Arts Center was about $2.8 million. The majority of the funds, $2.4 million, was donated to the project. Touring people through the building and explaining the vision for the center is believed to be key in the fundraising success.
The official opening to the public will be on October 6, with the first performance taking place on October 23.
For more details on the project and the theater schedule, check out the article at gainesville.com.
