Philbin donates to arts center
By HILARY BURN
News Writer
Television personality Regis Philbin made a $2.75 million donation for a studio theater that will bear his name in the new Marie DeBartolo Center for the Perfoming Arts.
Philbin, the popular host of the game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and talk show "Live! With Regis and Kelly", has already given several gifts to the University, including the endowment of a scholarship.
"Regis Philbin is not only one of Notre Dame's most recognized graduates, he also is among our most generous," said University President Father Edward Malloy. "With his time, talent and resources, Regis has made numerous contributions to the University and our surrounding community. We are most appreciative of this latest gift, which will do much to enhance our growing commitment to and reputation in the dramatic arts."
The contribution will supplement the DeBartolo family's original pledge of $33 million. The gift was intended for DeBartolo Hall and the new performing arts center.
The construction of the center had been stalled while the University waited for the DeBartolo pledge to be fulfilled. Having recently received the whole donation, the University sought other donors to meet the added costs that have emerged since the initial proposal. Along with Philbin's donation, several other significant donations have provided enough to build the $54 million facility.
"We would welcome this gift for any purpose, but to designate it for a theater that will be the home space for our lab and performance-art productions — a place for experiment and adventure in the arts — is especially appropriate," said Don Crafton, the chair of the Film, Television and Theater department.
The 100-seat theater will be used for some theater classes, lab performances and other departmental productions. The sophisticated seating, lighting and sound systems will provide students with artistic and technical freedom.
"It will greatly increase the University's ability to present cutting-edge theater," said Crafton. "It provides an opportunity for students to work on avant-garde performance pieces and any kind of dramatic performance requiring minimal stage support."
The studio theater is just one of the features of the new performing arts center, which will contain a 900-seat concert hall, a 350-seat Proscenium theatre, a film-screening studio and an organ loft.
"The Marie DeBartolo Center will be a quantum leap forward for performing arts at Notre Dame and it will be one of the finest University facilities of its kind in this country," said Director of Public Relations Dennis Moore.
The 123,000 square-foot building will be located at the south end of DeBartolo quad. Construction will begin in a few months and will be completed in 2003.
All News Stories for Friday, February 16, 2001
