| Thanks to critical donations from Dave and Nancy Petrone, Gwendolyn Lillis, and the visionary legacy of Portland arts philanthropist James F. Miller, the University Theatre has announced that it will break ground on its $7.9 million expansion project this spring. The groundbreaking ceremony, slated for Friday, May 11, will give supporters, community members and students the opportunity to explore the vision for the new space.
During construction, the University Theatre will produce their mainstage season jointly with three local theater companies. “It’s a win-win,” said department head John Schmor. “Our students get to try new theatrical collaborations, play to new audiences, build bridges with local artists, and then come back to a new facility with what they have learned.”
Donors Dave and Nancy Petrone believe that the theater arts add tremendous value to the educational enterprise at large: “This is not just about providing much-needed resources to theater majors. It’s also about providing a new venue for creative expression on campus, one that a broader group of students will access and the community will treasure for generations to come.”
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