New Center to offer centralized, focused location for creativity
Millikin University officially broke ground on its new Center for Theatre and Dance during a ceremony held on May 18. Millikin faculty and staff have worked with architects to finalize floor plans and renderings, and construction will be fully underway in summer 2018 with a goal of completion by fall 2020.
The new Center will offer a centralized, focused location for creativity to be taught, fostered and displayed, and will also provide a new venue for Millikin performing arts to delight, inform and inspire audiences who will come from throughout the region to see Millikin's nationally recognized excellence.
The $29 million project will feature a 260-seat flexible theatre which includes an orchestra pit, balcony and tech gallery with a tension wire grid. The new building will also feature lighting and sound labs, a costume studio, a costume classroom, collaboration spaces, and offices and support facilities for current staff and room for growth. The architectural partner for the project is Decatur (Ill.) firm BLDD.
The new Center for Theatre and Dance is one of three building projects under Millikin University's $85 million "Transform MU" capital campaign (TMU). The new Center will be located at the former site of Richards Treat University Center.
"The School of Theatre and Dance has long been a shining star among the many strong programs at Millikin University, and now with the new Center for Theatre and Dance, we will keep our program at an extremely high level," said Millikin President Dr. Patrick White. "The new Center will allow room for growth, to expand what we can accomplish, not only for the actors and dancers, but also to provide growth in the rapidly developing areas of arts technology, lighting and sound and costume design."
Mary Black, director of the School of Theatre and Dance at Millikin added, "The faculty, staff and students of the School of Theatre and Dance are thrilled to see this building becoming a reality. We will have the opportunity to integrate new technology into our teaching and our production seasons, creating new and exciting theatre and dance experiences that can engage our entire community."
Millikin's new Center for Theatre and Dance will also incorporate four acting studios, two dance studios, two design classrooms and practice rooms as well as all new modern theatre equipment and LED lights.
