| Citizens
Bank Foundation
makes $500,000 gift to
Penn State Downtown Theatre
March
25, 2003
Citizens Bank Foundation
has given $500,000 to help create the Penn State Downtown Theatre
Center, University and bank officials announced today (March
25) at a press conference held at the center at 127 S. Allen
Street in State College.
In recognition of
the foundation's generosity, the 13,000-square-foot, 150-seat,
two-story live theatre space inside the building will be named
the Citizens Bank Theatre. The Penn State Downtown Theatre Center,
in the former Danks department store building, is currently
being renovated. It will open its doors for ticket sales on
May 19, 2003, with its first show previewing June 2.
In addition to the
theatre space, which includes the stage and seating area, the
Penn State Downtown Theatre Center will hold a ticket center,
fine arts gallery, lobby, dressing rooms, and an administrative
office. The main entrance is on Allen Street.
"We are pleased
to join Penn State in helping to make possible a new cultural,
educational and entertainment complex for State College and
the surrounding region," said Stephen D. Steinour, Chairman
and CEO of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. "The arts play
an important role in fostering economic development and we are
especially proud that this theatre has such a strong community
focus."
The Citizens Bank
Foundation is the principal charitable contributions vehicle
of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. The Foundation's support is
focused on housing, community development and basic human needs.
"Penn State's
vision is to provide a quality educational experience for our
theatre students in a downtown venue that will engage the community
and stimulate the economic vitality of the region," said
University President Graham B. Spanier. "The support from
the Citizens Bank Foundation will play a major part in achieving
this vision."
The theatre, intended
for both town and gown use, will provide the first performing
arts center in the downtown business district of State College
and alleviate the limited facilities burden for students and
faculty in the School of Theatre and its professional arm, Pennsylvania
Centre Stage. The School of Theatre has long sought a third
performance space to complement two existing theatres on the
University Park campus, The Playhouse and The Pavilion, according
to Dan Carter, director of Penn State's School of Theatre.
"We couldn't
be happier with this opportunity to reach out to existing and
new audiences, an opportunity that only a theatre in the heart
of town can offer," said Carter. "This is an exhilarating
time for Penn State Theatre and the community, and I foresee
exciting things in our future due to the ongoing support of
President Spanier and our downtown business partners."
To promote the new
location, all Pennsylvania Centre Stage shows for the 2003 season
will be held in the new theatre. The Penn State Downtown Theatre
Center is another example of the longstanding outreach mission
of Pennsylvania Centre Stage, which serves both the University
community and the surrounding region.
The theatre's premiere
season-and Pennsylvania Centre Stage's 19th-will open on June
2 with the Neil Simon comedy classic, Broadway Bound, which
will run through June 21.
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