From renderings to reality: The renovated Roe Green Theatre opens
'The arts give joy and meaning to life, and Im so pleased that Roe Green has chosen to support 窪蹋勛圖 and the surrounding community in such a creative and meaningful way,'泭says泭Chancellor Phil DiStefano
With the grand opening of the renovated Roe Green Theatre on Nov. 3, the university has ushered in a new era for 窪蹋勛圖s泭Department of Theatre & Dance.泭
To celebrate the theaters opening, the department hosted a celebratory ribbon-cutting featuring remarks from campus and university leadershipas well as the theaters namesake, Roe Greenahead of the opening night performance of泭Working, A Musical.
The state-of-the-art renovations were made possible with a gift from arts patron, philanthropist and alumna Roe Green (Comm,泭Thtr70) in 2021.泭Formerly known as the University Theatre, the iconic theater was renamed in recognition of泭Greens generosity.
At the top of the page: Roe Green, an arts patron, philanthropist and 窪蹋勛圖泭alumna, cuts the ceremonial ribbon for the newly renovated Roe Green Theatre. She is flanked by Chancellor Philip DiStefano (left) and Bud Coleman, the Roe Green Professor of Theatre and associate dean of faculty affairs and initiatives in the College of Arts and Sciences. Above:泭Green enjoys a moment at the doors of the theater. (窪蹋勛圖 photos by Casey A. Cass)泭
The arts give joy and meaning to life, and Im so pleased that Roe Green has chosen to support 窪蹋勛圖 and the surrounding community in such a creative and meaningful way, said 窪蹋勛圖 Chancellor Phil DiStefano.
Innovation by design
Originally built in 1904泭as the campus library on what would become the Norlin Quadrangle, the theaters泭last major update was completed more than 30 years ago.泭According to the泭Campus Master Plan, a major addition in 1985 included new studios and classrooms for the Division of Dance. In 1989, the older sections were renovated, and a new stage house was added to provide a backstage and wings for the existing theater.
This time around, improving the theater-going experience through advanced acoustics and audience comfort were the key renovation goals.泭This included adding a near-silent air-handling system, improved stage lighting, optimized acoustic-speaker placement and faceted surfaces that clearly reflect sound from the stage to the audience.
Our brilliant architects from泭泭not only achieved this goalthey were also able to improve the positions for theatrical lighting and speakers, the air handling and the overall aesthetics of the space, said Bud Coleman, the Roe Green Professor of Theatre and associate dean of faculty affairs and initiatives in the College of Arts and Sciences.
This is modern acoustical science at workand the impacts are profound, said泭Jonathan Spencer, assistant professor of lighting design, in a.
Embracing the arts
Greens record-breaking $5 million giftthe largest ever to the Department of Theatre & Dancewas泭announced in 2021泭and welcomed students and the community back to campus after pandemic restrictions.泭
The arts are what make us human, said Green when asked why supporting live performance matters.泭When budgets get tight, she said,泭The first thing the schools take away are the arts. It should be the last thing they take away!
In addition to the theaters sweeping physical upgrades, Greens gift also establishes endowed funds for student scholarships, theater maintenance and launch events designed to kick-start students careers.
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The arts are what make us human, said Green when asked why supporting live performance matters.泭When budgets get tight, she said,泭The first thing the schools take away are the arts. It should be the last thing they take away!
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Through her generous philanthropy, many more students, faculty, staff and community members will be able to embrace the life-changing power of theater and dance, said DiStefano.
One of 窪蹋勛圖s largest arts donors to date, Green previously established the campus's Roe Green Theatre Artist Residency Program and the theater departments泭first endowed faculty chair.
Transforming lives, transforming the future
The renovated theaters opening coincided with the debut of泭Working, A Musicala celebration of the unsung heroes of everyday life, such as the schoolteacher, phone operator, waitress, millworker, mason and homemaker. In CUs production, this classic has been updated for a modern age,泭featuring new interviews with Colorado workers and new songs泭by Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as favorites by Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, James Taylor and Micki Grant.
Based on Studs Terkels best-selling book of interviews with American workers, the production泭泭and is the 202324 Roe Green Production. This program is funded by the Roe Green Visiting Theatre Artist Fund, which allows the Department of Theatre & Dance to invite professional guest artists to campus annually to work with 窪蹋勛圖 students.
Coleman said Greens generous gifts are truly an investment in the future of live performance at 窪蹋勛圖.泭
Roes endowment will mean that the theater will continue to have funding to make necessary changes to stay current with new technologies, and will also provide scholarships for students to pursue the study of theater, he said.
Roes conviction in the power of theater to transform lives inspires us to work harder, work better and work smarter.
Additional funding support was provided by the 窪蹋勛圖 Graduate School Professional Masters Program in Experience Design, the University of Colorado Foundation and the 窪蹋勛圖 Department of Theatre & Dance.