University hosts Schwartz event toward reactivating the theatre
Delaware State University unveiled its plans for the Schwartz Center for the Arts during a Feb. 23 event held in the 118-year-old theatre – a facility characterized as “an important revitalization tool” for Downtown Dover, the state capital, and the First State.
About 50 stakeholders attended the event which began with a reception and tour of the theatre facility, and move over to theatre area, where they enjoyed performances by the Ballet Theater of Dover, the University’s Concert Choir, as well as the Del State Drama Department, which performed a scene from its upcoming film musical production Romeo & Juliet. In addition, student and alumni musicians performed at various stops on the tour of the three-story facility.
For images of the event, click on https://www.flickr.com/photos/48216028@N03/albums/72177720296931725/show
The evening Mistress of Ceremonies, was University alumna Cathleen Jones Trigg, class of 1992, whose career has included success as an actress, broadcast journalist, and as the founder/CEO of Catscape Productions.
The program featured remarks in strong support of reactivating the Schwartz by Donald and Dolores Blakey, University alumni and the founders of Don-Del Productions. An onstage, sit-down conversation also took place between past University’s 11th President Wilma Mishoe and U.S. Sen. Tom Carper where they discussed the immense value the theatre could bring to Dover, Kent County, the State of Delaware, as well as the Mid-Atlantic region.
The University became a co-owner the Schwartz in 2007 when it entered into a joint agreement with Wesley College and the Friends of the Capitol Theater. With the University’s acquisition of Wesley last summer, the institution became the sole owner of the Schwartz.
The theatre has been largely inactive over the last few years, and now the University plans to reactivate the Schwartz through the development of a mixed-use strategy that will rely on state and federal funding, private and corporate support, University operations support, as well as revenue from artistic and culture programming. An Advisory Committee has been established to help navigate the revitalization effort, and the University has set a goal of raising $4 million over the next three years in support of the project.
For more information on how support can be provided in Del State’s reactivation of the Schwartz Center for the Arts, contact the University Foundation at (302) 857-6064 or at dsufoundation [at] desu.edu.