CSC Sets $17 Million Campaign to Build New Theatre

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC) announced today a $17 million capital campaign titled "Making History Unexpected" to construct a new theatre at 12th and Elm Streets, in the heart of Over-the-Rhine. The new facility will incorporate space for modern theatrical technology, increased seating capacity and lobby, expanded education and community outreach opportunities, as well as on-site production areas and administrative offices. The theatre will also become the "finale" of a planned "Classical Arts Corridor" connecting Music Hall, Memorial Hall, the School for Creative and Performing Arts, and Washington Park.

"Our new theatre will be the realization of the long-term vision for Cincinnati Shakespeare Company to become a world-class classical theater," said Brian Isaac Phillips, Producing Artistic Director. "We need more capacity to execute our bold artistic vision, deeper community engagement, and to transform students' lives in this region and beyond."

Thirteen million dollars--or 75%-- of the total seventeen million required has already been raised in the campaign's private phase. The "Otto M. Budig Theatre" will honor the campaign's lead contributor. In addition to the lead gift made by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation, other lead gifts have been made by Don and Linda Tecklenburg and the Tecklenburg Family Foundation, James R. Bridgeland, Jr., Richard L. and Debbie L. Westheimer, Vicky and Rick Reynolds, Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts Fifth Third Bank Trustee and The P&G Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation. The City of Cincinnati also committed $200,000 in matching grants.

Otto M. Budig has been a long-time supporter of CSC, generously sponsoring the season for the past 10 years. Producing Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips said that "Cincinnati wouldn't be the great city that it is without Otto's support of the arts. It will be an honor for his name to grace the front of our new building for generations to come." Mr. Budig also commented that "we wanted to have Cincinnati Shakespeare be a part of what is rapidly becoming the Classical Arts Corridor in the city and at last it is! It is my pleasure to provide a major grant to see to it that the building becomes a reality."

Mr. Budig also urged others to support the capital campaign saying that "although the grant we are providing is somewhat consequential, the fact of the matter is, it is not all that is needed to make this campaign a success. I urge you to do what is necessary to make sure you are fiscally involved because this opportunity is too good to miss."

The project will feature a 244-seat mainstage theater (CSC currently seats 150), with 197 seats on the main floor and 47 seats in the balcony. Plans call to maintain the uniquely intimate experience of attending a Cincinnati Shakespeare Company production, with no more than 6 rows included in the new design. In fact, the back row will now be only 20 feet from the stage, a shorter distance than in the current theater. It will also have a thrust stage uniquely designed for classical theatre, ample backstage, vertical and horizontal space, a loading door into the theater, and on-site scenic and costume design and construction shops. Beyond the performance space, the facility includes a full-size rehearsal and event space and a designated classroom for educational programs. There will be robust patron amenities available in full ADA compliance, including a more spacious lobby, increased restroom facilities, a separate box office, and a stylish bar.

GBBN Architects and Messer Construction are leading the project. CSC also engaged Schuler Shook Theatrical Consultants and Kirkegaard Associates to advise on the acoustics.

The process for this move began nearly 2 years ago. After years of operating within an inadequate space lacking amenities for patrons and limitations for artistic production (lack of wing/fly space for sets and minimal backstage, among others), the CSC board engaged a "Move Committee," which conducted a facility analysis and feasibility study to determine the need, feasibility, and vision for a new space. CSC explored the possibility of sharing space with another organization, but it was determined to be impossible due to the nearly 300 stage nights needed by CSC. The committee reviewed 35 locations over 9 months, and narrowed the search to a short list of four. Endorsed by 3CDC and the CSC board, CSC was able to secure an option for purchasing the land located at the corner of 12th and Elm in Over-the-Rhine. The feasibility study was completed with a grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

"History may be the past, but at CSC we are making history unexpected every day by disrupting conventional notions of theater, education and community," said Jay Woffington, executive director. "Otto Budig and our other generous donors have made a commitment to our vision. Now we are asking the community to help us complete it. The public phase of the campaign is called "Making History Unexpected" because of all the ways that CSC does this every day. And now the public can be a part of it as well!"

CSC, the only professional classical theater between Pittsburgh and Chicago, was the fifth-ever U.S. theater to complete Shakespeare's 38-play canon. Now in its 22nd year, patron and subscribers continue to grow, with an average of 25,000 in annual attendance. Educational and outreach programs also continue to grow, and now serve more than 34,000 students each year through summer camps, matinees and classes.

"We've done all that we can in our current facility," Woffington explained. "The new facility will allow for a further increase of attendance and revenue, and expanded reach for our educational programs."

Ongoing outreach includes a FREE Shakespeare in the Park series that takes place each summer, providing free plays to 30 communities, including Washington Park. The new theater will enable more community performances in Washington Park, along with providing additional programming space for performing arts organizations without their own facilities, and available presentation space for the myriad nearby startup organizations downtown. The "Cincinnati Development Fund is very excited about the prospect of the new development, and would consider the new theatre to be a cornerstone for the neighborhood and a catalyst for continued and increasing economic development in Over The Rhine," said Joe Huber, Chief Operating Officer of the Cincinnati Development Fund.

The projected timeline includes a ground breaking in early 2016 with a completion date of summer 2017. The 2017-2018 Season will be the first in the new space.

Four million dollars is needed to reach the goal for the new theater. The "Making History Unexpected" campaign welcomes all supporters of CSC's mission to bring Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages and the expanded opportunities a new theater would offer to help fulfill this mission. All CSC subscribers and patrons will receive an email asking for support of the campaign later today. Every donation counts and CSC will have a myriad of naming and sponsorship opportunities available giving donors a tangible and unexpected way to get involved in supporting the theatre. "In fact, for every donation made the donor will receive a chance to win naming rights to The Grand Stair. This is a privilege normally reserved for 6 or 7 figure donors. You can make a donation of $100 and have the opportunity to put your name on The Grand Stair for 3 years! You will receive an entry for every donation you make," said Development Director Joeliene Magoto. Interested donors can visit www.cincyshakes.com/makinghistoryunexpected for more information on how to support and/or to make a donation.

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