In the Greenroom
Theatres Seeing Fundraising Successes
theatre buzz
Despite the tough econ- and the scheduled comple-
omy, there are some the- tion this summer of the first
atres still moving ahead phase of our construction
with fundraising campaigns project, The Campaign for
and meeting success. the Future. With this award,
On January 14, the Lesher Foundation reaf-
Southern Utah University firms its leadership in sup-
President Michael T. porting significant cultural
Benson announced a $3 institutions in the East Bay.”
million grant to the Utah In Cleveland, Ohio, Tom
Shakesearean Festival from Hanks supported classic
the George S. and Dolores theatre as well, donating an
Doré Eccles Foundation, From left to right: Gerald R. Sherret, former mayor of Cedar City, R. Scott Phillips, Utah Shakespearean unspecified, but presum-
earmarked as the “lead gift” Festival executive director, Fred C. Adams, Festival founder, Jyl Shuler, Festival development director, ably large, gift to the Great
for the campaign to con- Michael T. Benson, president of Southern Utah University Lakes Theater Festival. His
struct a new Shakespearean Theatre. The new theatre, along donation allowed the GLTF to reach the amount necessary
with the current Randall L. Jones Theatre, will anchor the to trigger a $1 million matching grant from the Kresge
Utah Shakespearean Festival Centre for the Performing Arts. Foundation. The Foundation had extended its deadline
To be built one block east of the current outdoor theatre, it so that GLTF could raise the necessary funds. Hanks has
will replace the aging Adams Theatre with a state-of-the-art long had a connection to GLTF, having interned there
facility designed to enhance for several seasons when it
the Festival experience for was still known as the Great
thousands of patrons in the Lakes Shakespeare Festival.
years ahead. Patrons of the The grant will go towards
new theatre will enjoy the paying off GLTF’s loan it
same unique experience