MALTZ JUPITER THEATRE ANNOUNCES EXPANSION, MAJOR GIFT FROM ROE GREEN AND THE ROE GREEN FOUNDATION
Renovations to include 62 additional premium seats to create an upstairs club level lounge, as well as expanded lobby space and restrooms
February 25, 2013 (Jupiter) – The Maltz Jupiter Theatre has 
announced a major gift that will lead to an expansion prior to its 2013/14 season, Your Ticket to Great Entertainment.
Founding board member Roe Green and the Roe Green Foundation have offered a compelling challenge grant, in which $1.5 million will be donated toward a $2.5 million capital campaign. To complete the planned renovations, the not-for-profit Theatre needs to raise the additional $1 million by March 28.
“With this extraordinary gift – the second largest single contribution in the history of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre – we are 60 percent closer to our goal of beginning construction to improve our facilities,” said Andrew Kato, the Theatre’s producing artistic director. “With attendance at 97 percent capacity last season, our success has finally caught up to us and confirmed a positive trend at our Theatre: the need to grow. Now, we need your help to make our dream of expansion a reality.”
The Theatre plans to add 62 luxurious new seats in the existing second floor space to create an upstairs club level lounge. This second floor renovation will include a private entrance, glass elevator, expanded lobby, bar and restrooms, all adjacent to the 62 new seats. Additional executive offices will also be added to this floor, bringing the majority of the hard-working staff together. The Theatre also plans to expand and upgrade the downstairs lobby, increase restroom capacity and add a much-needed standalone family restroom.
“Roe Green has been a major supporter of the Theatre for the past 10 seasons, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to meet this generous challenge grant,” said Tricia Trimble, the Theatre’s managing director. “We know an expansion is necessary, and the addition of 62 seats in our Theatre will mean more than 7,000 additional seats per season, and it has the potential to add more than $350,000 in earned revenue each year.”
A Jupiter resident, Ms. Green is chief executive officer of the Roe Green Foundation. In addition to her position on the board of directors of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, she serves on the Kent State University School of Theatre and Dance Advisory Board, the foundation board of Kent State University, the board of Porthouse Theatre and the board of the Cleveland Play House. She is also in the Governor’s International Council of the Shaw Festival in Canada. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree from Kent State University.
“We – as a community of theatre appreciators, artists, and donors – have been able to achieve so much in a relatively small amount of time,” Ms. Green said. “Like many others, I have fallen in love with this organization and wanted to do something meaningful to keep it strong. My gift will fund 60 percent of the capital needed to complete the expansion, and I hope others are inspired to join me on this new journey that will strengthen the Theatre’s future.”
The architectural firm Designel has been chosen for the renovations. With national expertise designing performing arts facilities, their local designs include the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Palm Beach Dramaworks and the Riverside Theatre. Based in Palm Beach County, their practice is focused on arts projects across the country with budgets from $500,000 to $75 million.
If the additional money is raised, construction will begin March 28 and be complete in early October. A plan is in place for the Theatre’s staff to continue to work throughout the summer in office space next to the Theatre in Reynolds Plaza.
The challenge grant was announced at the Theatre’s spectacular Ten Event Gala, held Saturday, February 23, at the Theatre. The event took place the week of the Theatre’s 10th season anniversary, and included dinner in a glittering tent onsite at the Theatre, as well as a magnificent retrospective multimedia presentation produced by the Theatre’s producing artistic director Andrew Kato, showcasing a 14-piece orchestra and more than 20 stars of the Theatre’s past hit productions.
Performers included Hello, Dolly! star Vicki Lewis; My Fair Lady star Amanda Watkins; Crazy For You and The Music Man star Matt Loehr; Ain’t Misbehavin’ star Angela Grovey; Mark Jacoby and the Cagelles from La Cage aux Folles and many more. More than 550 guests were present to celebrate the Theatre’s 10th anniversary season.
Tickets are now on sale now for the rest of the theatre’s 10th Anniversary season, and subscriptions are currently on sale for the Theatre’s 2013/14 season, Your Ticket to Great Entertainment. For a complete schedule and tickets, call (561) 575-2223 or visit www.jupitertheatre.org.
About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Now celebrating its 10th season, the not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida’s preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state’s largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws over 70,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 7,530 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Paul and Sandra Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s highest honor for artistic excellence, including the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence in 2012. For more information about the Theatre’s upcoming shows and Conservatory, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.