By Amanda Viale
In March of 1922, Dixon, Illinois celebrated the grand opening of the newly constructed Dixon Theatre. Built for $200,000—an impressive sum at the time—the theatre featured fully fireproof construction, including brick, terracotta, concrete, steel, and terrazzo. Over the past 35 years, the Historic Dixon Theatre Group has been a dedicated steward of the building. In 2022, they successfully secured an EDA Grant that ramped up their efforts, and we were honored to join them to help restore this beloved cultural landmark.
Setting the Stage
When we entered the project, the theatre’s interior was in fair condition but showed clear signs of deterioration—most notably, significant water damage from longstanding drainage issues. A tarp covered a portion of the South wall and sections of ornamental plaster could be seen crumbling while other spots of plaster were peeling. The team’s restoration goals included repairing ornamental plaster, refreshing the full interior paint scheme, and renovating the restrooms.
Outside, we focused on restoring the terracotta façade, repointing and replacing brick, and completing a full roof replacement. To address the root of the water damage, we excavated around the building’s foundation to install drainage systems that would redirect water and prevent further deterioration.
Act I: Painting a New Vision
With structural issues addressed, attention turned to aesthetics—specifically, a new interior color scheme. While the client didn’t have a precise palette in mind, they were eager to complement existing features like the seating, while also planning for future growth that included the potential of a seating color change.
Choosing the right level of detail for historic paintwork is a careful balancing act. Historic theaters often featured highly elaborate schemes with dozens of colors but replicating that level of detail can be costly. With the client, we refined the palette, focusing on selective highlights to honor the theatre’s historic character while staying within budget.
Lacking a full paint analysis, we turned to vintage postcards and archival photos for inspiration, which revealed notes of red and gold within the color scheme. It was important throughout this process to incorporate mock-ups to ensure the paint we selected in design looked correct in the space. The contractor painted small portions of the theater with color selections enabling all parties to approve a color before the theatre was fully painted. This allowed us to adjust colors as needed, which was critical when our original gold selection appeared more “buttery yellow” than regal. With the client’s honest feedback and our understanding of the final lighting for the space, we adjusted the color– eventually selecting a deeper, more elegant gold that brought warmth and complemented the red and blue selections.
Act II: Blending the Old with the New
Matching new materials to 100-year-old elements is no small feat. The original terrazzo floors, for example, posed unique challenges. The existing floors have aged and dulled, and modern terrazzo is cast and finished differently than it was a century ago. We had to carefully balance color, texture, and tone to approximate the original—while balancing urgency, quality craftsmanship, and budget constraints.
While the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) offered flexibility on interior colors, they emphasized the importance of faithful restoration of the exterior terracotta. Since sourcing new terracotta is cost-prohibitive, we used cast concrete replicas, which were hand-painted and glazed to match the original finish as closely as possible. Though concrete lacks the natural sheen of glazed clay, careful craftsmanship brought the replication to life.
Curtain Call
As construction nears completion, we’re deeply grateful to have played a role in reviving The Dixon Historic Theatre. We commend Berglund Construction for their expertise in historic structures and working alongside us to phase this project, minimizing the impact construction had on the active show schedule for the theater. Even as the final touches end, the updated paintwork alone has sparked renewed energy and excitement in the community that makes our job feel like a job well done.
We look forward to seeing this historic stage once again become a vibrant gathering space—where stories are told, memoires are made, and the arts take center stage for generations to come.
