Lake Matoaka Amphitheater

From Special Collections Research Center Wiki

The Lake Matoaka Amphitheater at the College of William and Mary was also known as the Common Glory Stage or Amphitheater. This amphitheater on the edge of Lake Matoaka is used primarily for concerts. The amphitheater was planned in 1946 on the site of an old boathouse and was intended to be used for a colonial pageant in the summer and William and Mary functions during the academic year. Preliminary grading was in progress in 1946.

Jamestown Incorporated oversaw building the stage (118' x 60'), dressing and prop rooms, and spotlight towers. Architect Charles M. Major's sketches show a colonnaded, bowl-shaped theater. Convict labor was used in the construction project. The amphitheater opened in the summer of 1947 with the production of Common Glory, which ran from July 17 to September 14 of that year.

In 1957 the Cove Amphitheater was built for the presentation of The Founders. The Cove included wooden bench seats and an asphalt stage. In 1977 the lease with Jamestown, Inc., ended. In 1979 equipment was auctioned, and storage and dressing rooms were used by dance classes. An old foundry building was used as a studio for the Fine Arts Department. In 1983 Campus Police evicted two students who had been living in the light tower. Limited restoration began in 1985.

In May of 2006, a $7.6 million renovation began in cooperation with the Jamestown 2007 commemoration. Improvements include a new stage and seating area, ADA access ramps, underground utilities, and new buildings for equipment and a ticket office/restroom. The project was completed in April of 2007.

Material in the Special Collections Research Center

• Flat Hat, 2/11/1947, p. 9; 4/22/1947, p. 1.
• Colonial Echo
• University Archives Subject File Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
• University Archives Photograph Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
• Search the SCRC Collections Database for the many other resources available.

References

• University Archives Buildings File (2007), Amphitheater, Earl Gregg Swem Library, The College of William and Mary.
• 2007 construction information
• See history by David H. Dudley and other material in the folders "Buildings & Grounds--Lake Matoaka" and Matoaka Woods--Amphitheater (Common Glory)," University Archives Subject File Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Need help?

To search for further material, see Finding Materials in the SCRC for an introduction to the SCRC Collections Database, card catalogs, Flat Hat-William & Mary News-Alumni Gazette index, etc.

Questions? Contact the SCRC at spcoll@wm.edu or 221-3090, or visit the Special Collections Research Center in the Earl Gregg Swem Library at the College of William and Mary (hours).

A Note About The Contents Of This Wiki

Unfortunately, many of the early original records of the College of William and Mary were destroyed by fire, military occupation, and the normal effects of time. The information available here is the best available from known documents and sources at the time it was written. Information in this wiki is not complete as new information continues to be uncovered in the SCRC's collections and elsewhere. Researchers are strongly encouraged to use the SCRC's access tools for their research as the information contained in this wiki is by no means comprehensive.