THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 16, 1996 TAG: 9605160401
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL CLANCY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
When the first beat of the concert swept across the rain-soaked lawn of the Virginia Beach Amphitheater Wednesday night, Michael Tabor stopped his pacing and drank it in: the sound system, the crowd, the cheers.
``Chills went up the back of my neck,'' said Tabor, general manager of the spanking new showplace.
Tabor was standing on the walkway above the lawn and for once his walkie-talkie was silent.
``We've been waiting for that sound for a long time,'' he said. ``It breathed life into that big steel structure.''
In fact, the opening concert of the outdoor theater went off without a major hitch.
With delays brought by months of rain here and snow in the Northeast where some parts of the amphitheater originated, including the giant steel girders, there was plenty of last-minute heartburn. Some of the walkways were built only a few days before the opening.
Tabor said a critical piece of sound equipment, synchronizing the audio and video on the large-screen monitors, arrived just a few hours before the performance.
Everything seemed to be working well. The sound, the bathrooms, the hot dog, pretzel and beer stands, the parking, the ushers.
``Everything's falling into place extremely well,'' said city economic development director Donald L. Maxwell. ``I think we're all going to be very pleased.''
The most challenging of the minor problems faced by facility operators was three clogged toilets in the men's restroom. Contractors had been given complimentary tickets so they'd have people on hand to tackle those types of problems, but the plumbing contractor was unable to find his workers, who were caught up in the crowd, enjoying the show.
Jeff Mundt, in charge of the large, well-staffed concession booths, worried about the coffee on the cold night. ``Is the decaf brewing?'' he shouted. ``How about the hot dog rolls?'
Everything was ready, the staff called back.
And the show began.
``It's a blast. We're going to get soaking wet, but who cares,'' said Karen Howse of Virginia Beach, who was huddled under a big blue tarpaulin with her husband, Steve, and two other couples. They had six golf umbrellas holding up the tarp.
``The worst wetness has been spilling beer on the blanket,'' said Billy O'Connor of Chesapeake, one of the six friends.
Pam Klavenski of Virginia Beach grew serious. ``It's a wonderful opportunity to be able to experience this kind of event.''
``And the kids aren't here,'' added Renee O'Connor.
``I'm back in old Virginia, and I'm spending my time,'' wailed Williamsburg native Bruce Hornsby, the theater's opening act. And the hardy crowd roared its approval. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
STEVE EARLEY/The Virginian-Pilot
Willie Webb sweeps the walkway Wednesday leading up to the entrance
of the Virginia Beach Amphitheater.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH AMPHITHEATER OPENING by CNB