Rebuilt in 1985, the Macky stage is in a dire need of a facelift and we are reaching out to our community to help us raise the necessary funds. These COVID times have opened the door for the opportunity to do projects in the theater that in normal times would not allow. So we are making lemonade out of lemons with the goal to prepare Macky for the return of the performing arts, culture and entertainment later this year.
Resurfacing the stage not only will help preserve the heart of this historic venue for years to come, it also will:
-
Invite world class performers, speakers, College of Music students and faculty to give their best
-
Provide a safer surface, free of loose wood, for dancers and performers
-
A more resilient surface for stage workers when deploying the orchestra walls (which move on air casters), or staging operas or concerts
-
Welcome audiences with a refreshed and professional look.
We have just launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $40,000 in 180 days starting February 23. No donation is too small or too large and every dollar counts towards the goal. There are many ways to get involved besides donating. We invite you to do just that in any wand help us reach this goal at https://macky.live/crowdfunding2021.
Being a business unit of the University, Macky is a self-funded entity with limited access to general funds brought in by student tuition. 2020 was historically brutal for Macky as it was for almost every theater in the world. The last time we closed for more than a month was in 1984-1985 for a $3M renovation. Of the almost 100 people in our staff, only three have remained working on limited schedules. The three of us, with the support of the College of Music are working hard to rebuild, open safely for events, and bring the staff back. With the positive outlook in 2021 brought by the availability of effective vaccines, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Achieving our dream for the Macky stage through this crowdfunding campaign will help Macky and future events be better than ever.
Thank you,
Rudy Betancourt
Director, Macky Auditorium