photo by Ty Smith
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett along side his wife Susan, speaks to the media after announcing the $5 million toward the new Pittsburgh Playhouse at a press conference in downtown Pittsburgh. Corbett is currently running for relection in Pennslyvania’s gubernatorial race.
The University was awarded $5 million at a news conference Downtown Friday morning to aid in efforts to move the Pittsburgh Playhouse from Oakland to its new location on Forbes Ave. Downtown.
The grant came through the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). The RACP is a commonwealth grant administered by the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.
Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican running for re-election in November, spoke at the news conference to officially announce the grant toward the construction of the new Playhouse. He said that the new Playhouse would transform the Downtown area.
“Today, we announce an investment which will continue in making the city of Pittsburgh a premier destination for visitors from around the world,” Corbett said at the news conference. “Energizing the arts community of this great city is always a smart investment.”
The new Playhouse is expected to cost around $74 million and create a total of 600 jobs in the first five years of construction, according to an independent study by the Fourth Economy.
University President Paul Hennigan said that Point Park is grateful for the state’s support and the investment in the Playhouse will continue to advance the programs that are a part of the University’s Conservatory program.
“This will be a brand new, state of the art facility for our nationally acclaimed Conservatory,” Hennigan, who also mentioned that the new complex will be open 24 hours, said. “For downtown Pittsburgh, I think it’s going to bring an incredible vibe; I think it’s going to become that heart-beat of Downtown.”
The Pittsburgh Playhouse project is part of the University’s Academic Village Initiative, which is a large-scale project in efforts to improve the educational experience for students and help makeover the Downtown area. Completed projects of the Academic Village Initiative include Village Park, the Student Center and the Boulevard Apartments.
According to a press release and media packet distributed at the news conference, plans for the facility incorporate the University Center, the historic Stock Exchange Building and a new, five-story 92,000-square-foot addition. The new Playhouse will also include a 560-seat proscenium/thrust theater; a 10,000 square-foot production area; 11,147 square feet of tech space for technical theater and cinema arts programs; two black box theaters; and a two-story outdoor plaza and colonnade.
“It will become a part of the culture of Downtown,” Corbett said in an interview after the news conference Friday. “We have a great cultural center Downtown, it kind of spreads it over getting it across Liberty Avenue over here to Forbes and Wood.”
Student cast members from the upcoming Conservatory Theatre Company’s production “21,” a musical about the life of Roberto Clemente running at the current Pittsburgh Playhouse from Oct. 17-26, sang the national anthem at the event. Corbett expressed his thanks to the cast.
“I want to thank the students from ‘21,’ Corbett said. “That was without doubt one of the best [national anthems] I’ve ever heard.”
Senior musical theater major Melessie Clark, who performed with her fellow cast mates at the news conference said that singing the national anthem was an honor.
“We’ve been rehearsing to actually sing it at the Steelers game this Sunday,” Clark said on Friday. “This was kind of like a gig that came up in the meantime, it was an honor to do because the Playhouse plays such a major role in our lives.”
The University plans to break down three century-old buildings to make room for the Playhouse on Forbes.
When asked if shuttle services will continue to Oakland once the Playhouse moves Downtown, Hennigan said, “We’re not sure yet.”
Although she will not be here once the new Playhouse is completed, Clark thinks Point Park should consider continuing shuttle services to Oakland or get bus passes for students.
“Oakland is a part of the Pittsburgh college community,” Clark said. “Students are still going to be looking for off-campus housing because of financial reasons or wanting a change in scenery.”
More details of groundbreaking and completion dates will be announced next month, according to Hennigan. The University is continuing the fundraising process for the new Playhouse and administration said the grant helps speed up the process.
