Renovation and Expansion
The 24,000-square-foot (2,200 m2) addition (another 9,000 square of existing space was renovated) has changed the Wharton Center with a four-story glass and brick façade; an expanded front lobby, box office and gift shop; and family restrooms and additional women’s restrooms.
The new addition includes two new multi-purpose spaces to accommodate educational programs presented by the MSU Federal Credit Union Institute for Arts & Creativity at Wharton Center and also serve as reception space and a designated donor lounge in conjunction with public performances presented by Wharton Center. Consolidated administrative offices for the Wharton Center staff were also part of the expansion.
The renovation and expansion has solidified the venues reputation among producers and performers. Of the $18.5 million cost for improvements, $7.5 million came from the university while $11 million is to be raised from private donations. To date, $7 million has been gifted from individuals and businesses to support the project, which reopened its doors on October 10, 2009.
From the best of touring Broadway shows such as upcoming productions of A Chorus Line, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, and a three-week engagement of The Phantom of the Opera, to the superstars and rising stars of performing arts including the Emerson String Quartet and jazz vocalist Esperanza Spalding, Wharton Center presents an impressive line-up of entertainment in four theatres across the MSU campus, as well as in venues, classrooms and community centers throughout the state.
Read more about this topic: Wharton Center For Performing Arts
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