The Egg (building)

The Egg is a performing arts venue in Albany, New York resembling an egg. The building was constructed between 1966 and 1978 and was designed by Wallace Harrison. The engineer responsible for the application of the design, along with any changes to it, was Peter A. Steinborn. It is located in the northest corner of the Empire State Plaza.

The Egg, as suggested by its external shape, is an amphitheatre. It actually houses two amphitheatres, the 450 seat Lewis A. Swyer Theatre and the 982 seat Kitty Carlisle Hart Theatre. Architecturally, there are no other known buildings like The Egg in the world. Although it appears to sit on a small platform in the Empire State Plaza, a concrete girdle that surrounds The Egg is attached to a stem that goes down six stories into the Plaza to support the weight of the inclined building.

Performances

As an active performance venue The Egg keeps a constant schedule of acts coming to Albany. While focusing heavily on music, dance, and traditional stage presentations, performers as varied as Henry Rollins, the Zucchini Brothers, Emmylou Harris, the New York City Ballet, Perú Negro, They Might Be Giants, Porcupine Tree and Hot Tuna have appeared at The Egg. The Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company has been resident at The Egg for over ten years.

Trivia

Owing to its unusual shape and central location, The Egg has become an icon of the city of Albany, New York. The city's Fox affiliate, WXXA-TV (Channel 23), conducted a billboard advertising campaign to promote their airing of "The Simpsons" by showing a giant Homer Simpson reaching for The Egg and saying, “Mmm… concrete egg.”

The music group They Might Be Giants wrote a song entitled "The Egg" about the venue in 2004.

ee also

* List of concert halls

External links

* [http://www.theegg.org/ The Egg home page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbDGkzaZsz8&mode=related&search= They Might Be Giants music video]