ST. GEORGE — The St. George Musical Theater recently hosted over 275 guests at the Dixie Center for their annual fundraising gala themed, “We Dreamed A Dream.”
The dream for more than two decades has been to build a venue of their own. This year’s gala — kicking off the fundraising campaign for a brand-new theater — made that dream a little closer to reality.
With many stalwart patrons in attendance, including St. George Mayor Michele Randall, all Washington County commissioners, Utah Representative Don Ipson and congressional candidate Celeste Maloy, the theater raised $1 million in one evening entirely from private donations, perhaps a record-breaking amount for an all-local non-profit event, according to the news release.
“The community has made their will known loud and clear,” President and Artistic Director Bruce Bennett told the crowd. “The need for a new performing arts venue is long overdue and the time is now. While the theater has received commitments for nearly half of the expected $13 million dollar facility, there is still work to be done to raise the balance.”
St. George Musical Theater Board Chairman and retired CEO of Nationwide Insurance, Dimon McFerson along with his wife Darlene, previously donated $2 million and reaffirmed the need for a larger venue to “bring more joy to the community.”
“Most of our shows are sell-outs and this wonderful community deserves the enrichment only the performing arts can provide,” McFerson said.
Architectural firm Method Studio, an experienced arts-oriented architect based in Utah, displayed renderings of the exterior and interior, 3D videos and virtual reality tours that allowed attendees to experience the new theater and 375-seat theater-round through goggles.
“Breathtaking,” David Brinley, a board member, said of the simulation.
The new theater will be built on south Main Street in St. George. As a bonus announcement, officials shared plans to lease the old Cinema 6 movie theater to repurpose as a performing arts campus.
After remodeling, the leased building will offer youth programs, recitals, rehearsal spaces, tribute concerts, dance studios and rental spaces for the community.
“There is simply not enough inventory in our community for accessible space and we hope to be a one-of-a-kind arts friendly landlord for as many local organizations as possible,” Bennett stated in the release. “Our vision is to help achieve a true arts district that has been the dream of so many in our amazing community for decades, even centuries.”
For more information or to make a donation, visit the St. George Musical Theater website or call 435-628-8755.
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