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State-of-the-Art Tour Experience at the
Heart of $14 Million Auditorium Expansion
Project Also Adds Cafe Lula, New Gift Shop,
Box Office and Enhanced Food and Beverage Services
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE:RHP), owner of Ryman
Auditorium, Nashville’s iconic National Historic Landmark and
world-renowned performance venue, today will unveil its $14 million
Ryman Auditorium expansion and daytime tour attraction, which
begins with a state-of-the-art theater experience titled “Soul of
Nashville.” Visitors will be immersed in the Ryman’s fascinating
history as the room brings to life more than a century of legendary
performances and a new collaboration featuring Darius Rucker, The
Fisk Jubilee Singers, Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill. Once “Soul
of Nashville” has provided an introduction to the Ryman story,
visitors will enjoy five new exhibits: “Workin’ on a Building,”
“Showplace of the South,” “Mother Church of Country Music,” “Ryman
Stage to Screen” and “Ryman Renaissance.” Guests will see genuine
artifacts and enjoy videos with hosts Charles Esten, Marty Stuart,
Nicole Kidman, Ricky Skaggs, Robin Roberts and Trisha Yearwood
taking them through each chapter of the Ryman’s illustrious
history.
This Smart News Release features multimedia.
View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150608005705/en/
Ryman Auditorium (Photo: Steve Lowry)
“When you see the Ryman's past come to life in such an
innovative way, it's hard to imagine that this building was nearly
lost to history just 20 years ago,” said Colin Reed chairman and
chief executive officer of Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. “As
more and more people from all corners of the world discover what
Nashville has to offer, we now have a fully-immersive way to share
with them just how important the Ryman is to Nashville, our artist
community and to the people who visit this great city. The
continued investments our company has made in the Ryman Auditorium
are a testament to the fact that this building should and will live
on forever as the most important Nashville icon.”
“To say there is no other place like the Ryman is an
understatement,” said Sally Williams, Ryman Auditorium general
manager. “The story of this building is so powerful and
emotional— we needed an extraordinary way to take visitors on our
nearly 125-year journey. The “Soul of Nashville” and our new
exhibits do that job beautifully.”
“The Ryman Auditorium is one of the great music venues in the
world and is synonymous with Nashville's brand as Music City,”
Mayor Karl Dean said. “This expansion is a testament to the
strength of our music industry and our cultural significance. Thank
you to Colin and Ryman Hospitality Properties for your leadership
and confidence in our city."
The original 1892 auditorium remained untouched during the
renovation. Nashville- based firms Hastings Architecture
Associates and R.C. Mathews Contractor headed up the $14 million
project.
Soul of Nashville Tour Experience
“Soul of Nashville” will kick off the reimagined Ryman daytime
tour experience in a new 100-seat theater custom built for the
show. Created by BRC Imagination Arts of California, “Soul of
Nashville” utilizes cutting edge technology to surround the
audience with moving images on multiple projector planes and sound
that engulfs the senses and puts them in the center of the show.
Through special effects, archival images and footage, performers
from the Ryman's past become multidimensional right before the
viewer’s eyes.
“The opportunity to put guests inside the history of the Ryman
has been one of the most satisfying experiences in our 33 year
history,” said Brad Shelton, creative director of BRC Imagination
Arts. “We’re immensely proud to be a part of it.”
The show culminates in a finale that delivers a montage of
photos, posters and video footage from the Ryman's contemporary
history since reopening 20 years ago. Seamlessly, the energy
captured in those performances transitions into a new arrangement
of the traditional song, "Workin' on a Building," featuring a
magnificent performance by the acclaimed Fisk Jubilee singers, who
have a history with the Ryman dating back to 1892, and soloists
Darius Rucker, Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill. The choir and stars
appear larger-than-life on the screens as if performing a concert
right in the room. By design, this experience makes an emotional
connection with the audience who will then exit the theater and
begin the rest of their tour experience.
“Soul of Nashville” Host Lula C. Naff
“Soul of Nashville” is hosted by a virtual Lula C. Naff, the
Ryman’s longtime promoter and manager (1904-1955.) A remarkable
woman not widely known today, Naff’s business and booking savvy
garnered prestige for both Ryman Auditorium and the city of
Nashville as a performance arts center for the region. Known
as the “first lady” of theater management, she brought the greatest
performers and Broadway plays of the day to the Ryman including:
Bob Hope, Charlie Chaplin, Enrico Caruso, Harry Houdini, Katharine
Hepburn, Mae West, Ziegfeld Follies, “Guys and Dolls,” “Oklahoma!”
and many more. Naff also ushered the Grand Ole Opry into the
Ryman in 1943, where the show resided until 1974. Under her
leadership, the Ryman became a showplace for great diversity, a
tradition that continues today. She was also a trailblazer for
working women, branching out on her own before women even had the
right to vote.
New Exhibits
“Workin’ on a Building”
Video host Trisha Yearwood tells of the famed meeting between
Thomas Green Ryman and Samuel Porter Jones, and the inspiration
that led to the construction of one of the nation’s grandest
tabernacles. On display are artifacts documenting Ryman’s life,
construction of the building and events that took place during the
early years of the Union Gospel Tabernacle.
“Showplace of the South”
Most know of the Grand Ole Opry’s time in the Ryman, but some
may not be aware of the performances that graced the stage long
before the radio show arrived. Video host Nicole Kidman shares the
fascinating story of the Ryman’s transition from a revival hall
into a premier performing arts venue. At the forefront was longtime
manager Lula C. Naff.
“Mother Church of Country Music”
The Ryman acquired a new identity when a soon-to-be world-famous
radio program found itself in search of a new home. The Ryman’s new
tenant brought a whole new fan base into the pews when they began
broadcasting their clear-channel signal coast to coast from the
stage of the old “Mother Church.” Hear firsthand accounts from Opry
members Marty Stuart and Ricky Skaggs as they host the exhibit
video, enjoy rare performance footage and see stage costumes and
instruments on display.
“Ryman Stage to Screen”
Many remember hearing the sounds of the Opry resonating over the
airwaves but do not realize how many times the Ryman has appeared
on the big screen. Visitors will see clips from the concert
tapings, television episodes and major motion pictures that have
used the Ryman as their setting during a video hosted by Charles
Esten. From “Coal Miner’s Daughter” to television’s “Nashville,”
“Honkytonk Man” to “American Idol,” the Ryman has served as an
important backdrop for many filmmaking projects over the years.
“Ryman Renaissance”
The last stop on the tour is an exhibit dedicated to the ongoing
legacy of the Ryman. Video host Robin Roberts shares recent Ryman
history and relates the importance of its continued tradition.
Today, the Ryman hosts 200-250 events annually, and, just like the
generations of the past, people sit in the same wooden pews to see
the greats of their day perform and breathe new life into the
room.
Cafe Lula
In another nod to Lula Naff, a new restaurant has been added
bearing her name, Cafe Lula. With floor-to-ceiling glass windows on
three sides and a covered patio, the cafe, located just outside the
Ryman’s main entrance, will cater to tour visitors, concert-goers,
downtown office workers and residents alike.
Cafe Lula is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with extended
hours during Ryman events. Serving Springer Mountain Farms
chicken, the menu features fresh, healthy fare with an emphasis on
rotisserie cooking and locally-sourced ingredients available for
both dine-in and grab-and-go service. The cafe also includes an
espresso bar featuring locally roasted and specially blended
coffees, which transforms into a full service bar each
afternoon.
Retail
As part of the renovation, the Ryman has doubled the size of its
gift shop. The new store offers exclusive Ryman-branded items as
well as an activity station where visitors can make their own
custom t-shirts and posters and listen to music before they
purchase. Users also have the opportunity to shop the Ryman
e-commerce site at the activity station.
Daytime Tour Hours & Pricing
The Ryman is open for tours seven days a week (closing only for
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. Self-guided tours (including “Soul of Nashville”) are $20 for
adults and $15 for children ages 4-11. Backstage tours
(including “Soul of Nashville”) are $27.50 for adults and $22.50
for children ages 4-11. Tickets can be purchased online at
http://ryman.com/tours, at the Ryman box office or by calling
615-889-3060. Group rates are available for parties of 15 or more;
please contact group sales 615-871-5043.
About Ryman Hospitality Properties
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE:RHP) is a REIT for
federal income tax purposes, specializing in group-oriented,
destination hotel assets in urban and resort markets. The Company’s
owned assets include a network of four upscale, meetings-focused
resorts totaling 7,795 rooms that are managed by lodging operator
Marriott International, Inc. under the Gaylord Hotels brand. Other
owned assets managed by Marriott International, Inc. include
Gaylord Springs Golf Links, the Wildhorse Saloon, the General
Jackson Showboat, The Inn at Opryland, a 303-room overflow hotel
adjacent to Gaylord Opryland and AC Hotel Washington, DC at
National Harbor, a 192-room hotel located near Gaylord National.
The Company also owns and operates media and entertainment assets,
including the Grand Ole Opry (opry.com), the legendary weekly
showcase of country music’s finest performers for nearly 90 years;
the Ryman Auditorium, the storied former home of the Grand Ole Opry
located in downtown Nashville; and 650 AM WSM, the Opry’s radio
home. For additional information about Ryman Hospitality
Properties, visit www.rymanhp.com.
B-ROLL PACKAGE (2 – 2:30 p.m. ET):
In advance of the 4 p.m. CT news conference at Ryman Auditorium,
the company will make a B-roll package of the new improvements
available via satellite feed. The package includes
interviews with “Soul of Nashville” collaborators Darius Rucker,
Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill; interviews with company executives
Colin Reed, Sally Williams and Steve Buchanan; footage of
interior and exterior building improvements and historical Ryman
Auditorium stills.
TRANSMISSION DETAILS:
Date:
June 8th, 2015
Job Name:
Ryman Auditorium Media Package
Satellite:
Galaxy 17
Transponder 23K Digital
Orbital slot:
91.0 degrees W
Bandwidth: 18.00 MHz
Uplink Freq:
14469.0000 V
Downlink Freq. 12169.0000 H
Satellite time:
14:00 – 14:30 ET
X15 APPROX
(2:00pm – 2:30pmET)
Video:
MPEG-2, DVB-S, 1080i, 59.94 fps HD
Chroma sampling:
4:2:0
Modulation type:
QPSK
Sym Rate:
13.13M Sym/s
Data Rate:
18.1503 mbps
FEC:
3/4
Encryption:
NONE
Audio 1:
MPEG-1 Layer II, Stereo 192 Kbps
Audio 2:
MPEG-1 Layer II, Stereo 192 Kbps
Destination:
TBD
Uplink Contact:
NorthStar Studio 615 650 6290 or 615 650 6070
Ask for Engineer in Charge
IMAGES AND RENDERINGS:
www.rymanhp.com/images (available
at 2 p.m. ET)
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150608005705/en/
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.Media:Brian Abrahamson,
615-316-6302babrahamson@rymanhp.comorRyman AuditoriumLisaann
Dupont, 615-458-8715ldupont@ryman.com
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