New Bedford’s Zeiterion Starting to Take On Its New Look

After months of construction and renovation work, the new-look Zeiterion Performing Arts Center on Purchase Street in New Bedford is now taking shape.

There is still much work to do, but the Z's Vice President of Strategic Advancement Nicole Merusi said several of the renovations are starting to take shape.

Speaking on Townsquare Sunday, Merusi said crews are working in all parts of the building.

"The initial work in the building was mostly demolition, but now, reconstruction is starting in some areas," she said. "All of the old seating has been removed in the theater and the floor is mostly dirt, but contractors should be ready in a couple of weeks to pour the slab for the final floor in the auditorium."

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In putting in the new seats, Merusi said the Z has to follow historic preservation guidelines, and that was a challenge in itself.

"We don't actually have any pictures of the original seats from the 1923 building, so we have worked with our architects and the seating company to design seats which will look like what's believed to be the original Zeiterion seats in 1923," she said.

She expects the Zeiterion seating capacity to remain around 1,200.

Merusi said the second and third floors, where most patrons have never been, are now being rebuilt.

"Aluminum framing is up and we're starting to put in sheet rock," she said. "The second and third floors are really starting to take shape."

Merusi said the project's architects are the ones who suggested space in the basement below the lobby might be perfect for a speakeasy, fairly common during the Prohibition year of 1923.

"The speakeasy will have a dedicated bar space, plus a mobile, small-platform stage, and fully-equipped for cabaret-style performances," she said. "It will also be available for birthday parties, anniversaries and events like that."

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