Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts

This week I had the exciting opportunity to photograph the iconic Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in the heart of Hartford, Connecticut. A legendary venue, the Bushnell houses two main performance spaces: the William H. Mortensen Hall, which holds up to nearly 3,000 visitors, and the intimate Maxwell M. & Ruth R. Belding Theater, seating up to 900. Stepping into the theater is a humbling experience, as you can feel the history that has been made since the theater opened in 1930. It is remarkable how the original Art Deco interior beautifully blends with the modern aspects of the theater.

If you are wondering about the lamp on the stage, it is known as the ghost light. Legend has it that it is meant to appease ghosts, but it also serves a practical purpose by indicating where the stage ends when the theater is completely dark. Some theaters take a different approach to caring for their ghosts. For example, the Palace Theatre in London has two seats permanently available, in case a ghost wishes to take in a performance.