‘Star’ replaces old stage, but preserves its many memories

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Comedian Chris Tucker generates laughs on the new stage at the Star Plaza Theatre on May 21. A substantial part of the former stage has been saved. The Merrillville venue opened in 1979. | Guy Rhodes~For Sun-Times Media

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Updated: January 23, 2012 2:32AM

There is a new stage at the Star Plaza Theatre that is ready to create fresh memories.

Installation of a maple wood stage was completed in April at a cost of close to $100,000, according to Charlie Blum, president and chief executive officer of Merrillville’s Star Plaza Theatre.

The old stage was totally replaced. It had sustained significant water damage when an emergency sprinkler system was activated by a Feb. 9 fire that started at a performance of the New Shanghai Circus.

“The fire was actually out before the firemen even got here,” said Blum, noting fire extinguishers also were used.

A floor lamp that was apparently knocked askew is believed to have been the cause of the fire, Blum said. The illuminating lamp — and its heat — ended up facing a stage curtain, and ignited it, according to the theater’s account.

No one was injured, and the blaze was limited to the curtain, but the grand stage got a soaking “as a result of our great sprinkler system doing what it’s supposed to do.”

Comedian Martin Lawrence performed the first show on the new stage on April 27.

There is a multilayered aspect to the maple stage that debuted in April.

The replacement stage is 97 feet by 40 feet. It will welcome a new procession of stars and shows in the coming years. You might say it’s the dawn of a different era.

Collectors’ items

Although water substantially damaged something of historic value at the Star Plaza Theatre, it’s not totally gone.

Blum said about 50 percent of the old wooden stage was saved.

He noted that it would probably be divided into small commemorative items.

“We have the wood, but we have not made the decision on how it’s going to be distributed or what would be the cost,” Blum said last week. “It’s the original. It’ll be the original stage. It’s just a piece of history. So many people have incredible memories of seeing a show at Star Plaza Theatre.”

Little pieces of the stage may be framed. Commemorative pieces of the stage could be sold in the theater’s lobby, Blum said. “There might be an opportunity to purchase online, as well.”

Meanwhile, the idea has been kicked around to use money from the sales of stage chunks to help fund the summer theater productions at the Star Plaza Theatre that utilize young local talent.

Those regional-theater shows are presented by Star Productions, which is affiliated with the Star Plaza Theatre and headed by Blum.

Celebrities abound

Stay tuned for more details on those commemorative pieces of the Star Theatre’s old stage.

Plenty of biggies have traipsed across it. We’re talkin’ Liberace and Sammy Davis Jr. in the 1980s, for instance.

How about Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in 1999? Christina Aguilera appeared in 2000. There’s also been Bob Hope, Richard Pryor, Tina Turner, Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno.

Now there’s a new stage to accommodate more famous feet.

Bob Kostanczuk talks entertainment with Steve “The Preacher” Glover from 12:15 to 1 p.m. each Friday on WJOB-AM (1230) and online at WJOB1230.com.