Mike Miclon, artistic and executive director of Johnson Hall, gestures towards the stage from the newly built balcony during a tour of the building Wednesday in downtown Gardiner. More than six months into the $9 million project to remake the state's oldest opera house, the building has been stripped down to its bones.

This panoramic photo made Wednesday shows what will be the third-floor theater from the new balcony of Johnson Hall in downtown Gardiner.

The stage of the third-floor theater is seen during a tour of Johnson Hall Wednesday in downtown Gardiner. Renovation plans call for the stage to be enlarged.

Mike Miclon, artistic and executive director of Johnson Hall, gestures towards a burgundy cloth wall covering from when the venue's past life as a movie theater during a tour Wednesday in downtown Gardiner.

The underside of a new balcony is seen from the back of the third-floor theater during a tour of Johnson Hall Wednesday in downtown Gardiner.

The trim details on the second-floor landing are seen during a tour of Johnson Hall Wednesday in downtown Gardiner.

This panoramic photo made Wednesday shows what will be the third-floor theater from the new balcony of Johnson Hall in downtown Gardiner.