Tomorrow will be a big day for UVA Drama enthusiasts. There will be a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Ruth Caplin Theatre, part of an addition and numerous renovations made to the current UVA Drama buildings.
The expansion is made possible in part by the $4 million donation made by Mortimer and Ruth Caplin. Ruth Caplin is an alumnus of both the UVA College of Arts and Sciences and UVA Law School. Mortimer Caplin is a former UVA Law professor and past president of the Virginia Players in the 1930s. The project received a $1 million matching grant from the UVA Arts Grounds Challenge Fund.
The renovations and addition are part of the Betsy and John Casteen Arts Grounds. Vice Provost for the Arts Elizabeth Hutton Turner told UVA Today, "It is an element of the University’s master plan to embrace a comprehensive vision for providing improved facilities for fine and performing arts programs.”
The new theatre will be designed to accomodate drama and dance performances, as well as film viewings. It will include a thrust stage, which is surrounded on three sides by the audience, and the stage itself will be a sprung floor stage for dance performances. Construction is pending design approval by the Board of Visitors, but is currently scheduled to begin in January.
