Reinhardt Breaks Ground on New Theater Building

WALESKA, GA -- “Shakespeare said, ‘The world is a stage and we are merely players.’ Now we will have a stage on which to play.”

Dr. Mark Roberts, vice president and dean for academic affairs, said those words as Reinhardt University broke ground on its much-anticipated theater building set to be completed in the spring.

The theater building is part of the full Arts Around the Lake project Reinhardt President Dr. Kina Mallard has envisioned.

“The theater groundbreaking was a momentous occasion, marking a new future for our theater students,” Mallard said. “The theater building is part of our vision for Arts Around the Lake at Reinhardt as we become a destination for learning, arts, faith and culture. We hope the building will be completed by April in time for our seniors to perform their last play as Reinhardt students in their beautiful new home.”

Currently, the Falany Performing Arts Center, which features a concert hall and classrooms, sits on one end of Lake Mullenix, and the Fincher Art Building sits directly across on the other side.

The theater building will sit on a third side overlooking the fountain and the lake. An amphitheater, to be built as funds become available, will complete Arts Around the Lake.

David Nisbet, director of Reinhardt’s Theater Program, said he was overwhelmed with emotions at the sight of the groundbreaking Sept. 20. He held back tears as he embraced students who felt the same overwhelming emotion as he did.

“I am excited," Nisbet said. "It is a dream come true. I never thought I would see this day and I have. It’s a beautiful day."

The groundbreaking ceremony included President Mallard, Roberts, Ken White, vice chair of the Reinhardt Board of Trustees, Dr. Fred Tarrant, dean of the School of Performing Arts, Nisbet and senior musical theater major Sarah Williams. Architect Garland Reynolds also was in attendance.

The program featured Reinhardt students singing "Make Our Garden Grow" from opera Candide by Leonard Bernstein. Soloists Kat Manettas and Michael Vavases led the performance. School of Music instructor Brian Osborne accompanied the performers on the keyboard.

Osborne said he chose the selection because it embodied what Reinhardt is doing.

“I chose it because I felt that it fit the event perfectly as well as the vision of the new building and Arts Around the Lake," Osborne added. "It capitalizes on the idea that we are a family here at Reinhardt, working together, moving toward something really amazing."

While the Falany Performing Arts Center is a beautiful concert hall, it is not a theater. And theater students and faculty currently do not have a permanent home for their needs, including a stage with a backstage, dressing rooms and a place to build sets.

The new building for the theater program will include a conservatory, black box theater, portico, grand lobby, box office, north and south loggias, green room, dance room, performance studio, paint shop, scene shop, wardrobe shop, media classroom and faculty offices.

The fundraising effort for the theater continues, and tax-deductible gifts are important to the success of the project.

For information on how to give visit www.reinhardt.edu/thrive or contact Tim Norton, vice president for advancement & marketing, at (770) 720-5545 or tan@reinhardt.edu.

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Photo: from left to right are senior musical theater Major Sarah Williams, David Nisbet, Ken White, Dr. Kina Mallard, Dr. Mark Roberts, Garland Reynolds and Dr. Fred Tarrant. Credit: Jeff Reed