A renaissance theme at the Lillis Business Complex atrium greeted about 60 guests Friday night in celebration of the University Theatre’s effort to expand its performance facilities.
A $1.5-million donation from late Portland businessman James F. Miller will help fund the expansion. The University plans to match the gift with $3.25 million from public resources and an additional $1.75 million from private gifts. The project is expected to take three years to complete.
Miller was the president of Blyth & Co., Inc., in New York after starting there as an office boy. He was a strong advocate of higher education, and had given charitably to many of Oregon’s educational institutions.
University President Dave Frohnmayer said he is grateful to Miller for helping to improve a part of the University’s facilities that is severely outdated.
“He wanted to give something to great worth but humble support,” Frohnmayer said.
Many of the current theater facilities range from 50 to 100 years old. Villard Hall is the second-oldest building on campus, completed in 1886. Arena Theater in Villard Hall is a former classroom turned into a tiny type of theater seating 87 people. The Arena is used for classes during the day and performances at night. The Robinson Theater is said to be difficult for modern productions.
The new facility, which will be named the James F. Miller Theater Complex, should change all this. A 150-seat theater will replace the Arena Theater, which will then be used for rehearsals and classes. A costume shop, expanded scenery, and upgraded dressing rooms and makeup rooms will also be added. The lobby of the Robinson Theater will be renovated and expanded so the new lobby will serve both the Robinson Theater and the new spaces from a single area.
Jeffrey Mason, head of the department of theater arts, was pleased with what will be available to students in the upcoming years.
“We will be able to grow in ways just not possible right now,” he said. Mason was particularly excited about being able to have performances simultaneously.
Jeff Whitty, a 1993 graduate from the University, was the headlining speaker at Friday’s event. Although Whitty graduated with a degree in English, he was involved in several theater productions. Whitty was the 2004 Tony Award winner for best book of a musical for “Avenue Q.” He was been an actor and writer after graduating from the University. His plays include “The Plank Project,” “Suicide Weather,” “Balls” and “The Hiding Place.”
Whitty said the expansion would allow theater students to hone in on their skills in a more productive environment.
“Students will be able to focus their attention on what it should be — their art,” he said.
Guests to the event were treated to live renaissance music. Joe Stone, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, led guests to the dining area, where they were shown pictures of plays on a large screen.
Following the dinner, the University Theater touring company performed a show at Robinson Theater. The performance was Shakespeare ala Carte, a series of scenes and monologues from several of Shakespeare’s plays.
Charlie Harness is a freelance reporter for the Daily Emerald