TRANSFORMING LIVES
The Miller Theatre Complex
construction update photo gallery
Due to break ground in late spring of 2007, the theatre expansion project is the first major expansion of theatre facilities at the University of Oregon since 1949. We will be adding an up-to-date “black box” arena theatre on the grounds of the former “Carnival theatre” (and where we have played our “Mad Duckling” children’s theatre each summer). In addition to this new theatre, we will be expanding the scene shop and building an entirely new costume shop, with fitting room, dye room and new green room. To serve both the Robinson theatre and new arena theatre, the project also includes a total redesign which greatly expands our lobby, restrooms and box office facilities. The Miller Theatre complex is designed by Thomas Hacker Architects, the same firm that recently designed the New Theatre for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon.
Theatre faculty and UO fund raisers are working hard to meet our March deadline for sale of the bonds that secure our budget. In this “last lap,” we still have several naming opportunities from donations of $10,000 to $750,000. For more information about these opportunities and how to get involved in joining our project, contact our development directors Heidi Shuler (hshuler@cas.uoregon.edu) or Jane Gary (jgary@cas.uoregonl.edu), or call our development office for the College of Arts and Sciences at 541-346-3950.
When we have secured sale of state bonds for the project and begin construction, we hope to move into fundraising for “Phase II” of the project, which is a long over-due renovation of the venerable Robinson Theatre, including acoustical upgrades, a re-raking of the house for improved sightlines, new dressing rooms and make-up room.
“We will all have a new sense of pride and purpose, a new momentum to allow us to not only maintain our current high standards, but also to raise those standards and explore new and exciting forms of production.”
- Jack Watson, Associate Professor,
former department head and
current Graduate Coordinator