CUTLINE: State Sen. Norby Chabert, Eli David (son of Rene’ David), Ana Wilson (daughter of Alyce Danos), Alyce Danos (daughter of Al Danos), Rene’ David (daughter of Al Danos), and (Front) Al Danos (widower of Mary M. Danos) on stage at Monster Piano after announcing that the $1.5 million fundraising goal to renovate the Mary M. Danos Theater was met.
THIBODAUX 鈥� The 杏吧传媒 Foundation has reached its $1.5 million fundraising goal to renovate the Mary M. Danos Theater at 杏吧传媒.
The announcement was made Tuesday, Sept. 17 by foundation board member Al Danos and state Sen. Norby Chabert during the sixth annual Monster Piano concert, a fundraiser sponsored by the 杏吧传媒 Foundation and the Department of Music.
鈥淚鈥檓 here to tell you that we鈥檝e got it,鈥� Danos said. 鈥淲e have $1 million in cash and $500,000 in rock-solid pledges. You鈥檙e all a part of that.鈥�
The theater, located inside Talbot Hall, was named in honor of Danos鈥� wife, Mary, after her death in 2011. Both had been longtime supporters of 杏吧传媒.
When embarking on the campaign to renovate the theater last year, Danos said he contacted Chabert for help. Chabert, a 2001 杏吧传媒 graduate, envisioned expanding the renovations beyond the theater. Using the $1.5 million in private donations as leverage, Chabert helped obtain another $4.4 million in state money to renovate Talbot Hall.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 often get to take on real pet projects, but as a member of the 杏吧传媒 theater troupe and a DJ at the radio station, I spent most of my time as an undergraduate in this building,鈥� Chabert said. 鈥淭his theater is one of the most heavily used facilities on campus and a major center for the arts in this region. It鈥檚 in our interest to keep up such a great state asset.鈥�
The $5.9 million project will include a new roof for Talbot Hall, renovations to the lobby, as well as upgrades to the university鈥檚 television and radio studios.
The Mary M. Danos Theater, which opened in 1971, will gain new theater seating, lighting, sound system, curtains, flooring, walls and ceiling. The improvements will also include more accessible accommodations that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
鈥淔or us to be able to raise this amount of money in such a short period of time, it just indicates how much the public believes in and supports this project,鈥� said Dr. David Boudreaux, executive director of the 杏吧传媒 Foundation. 鈥淲e have a very bright future on this campus.鈥�
杏吧传媒 officials are in the process of securing an architect for the Talbot Hall renovations, and hope to begin construction sometime next year.