This week crews will begin work on a Rochester landmark.  The now closed Eastman Theatre will undergo major renovations.  Already the theatre's a selling point for the University of Rochester.  "Students walk on stage and make the choice at that point I'm going to perform here.  So to have this theatre renovated will just help us to get the best students," said Jamal Rossi, Eastman School of Music.

The theatre will get brand new seats including 98 box seats.  There will also be 12 upper level boxes, those will be the best seats in the house.  The theatre is losing almost 800 seats.  This way it will be smaller and feel more intimate.  "The sound is going to be more immediate and hopefully easier for the musicians to hear on stage," said Mark Kellogg, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Trombonist.

Five years ago the theatre got a new stage.  This is the second part of the project.  The goal is better acoustics.  "If you can't hear everything clearly then that doesn't help the level of the performance.  So having beautiful clear acoustics with no extraneous sounds that's what it’s all about," said Rossi.

The theatre is known for its chandelier.  They're going to re-lamp it using energy efficient light bulbs.  When the theatre re-opens it’s expected to be brighter.  They're also going to have a new concession stand in the lobby with five new lounges.

In October, the theatre will again open to the public.  It will then be called Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.

The Eastman School of Music is also in the midst of another project.  This building under construction will house a brand new recital hall.  It’s expected to open by 2011.  Once its finished people will be able to walk from the East End Garage into Eastman Theatre without going outside.  Altogether the project cost $46.5 million.