Two donors give $2 million for Zach Theatre project

Monday, October 20, 2008 - 2:54 PM CDT
Two donors give $2 million for Zach Theatre project
Austin Business Journal

Local arts philanthropists James Armstrong and Bill Dickson have donated $1 million each to Zach Theatre—money that will go toward the theater’s capital campaign.

The capital campaign will help realize a remodeled and expanded campus for the 75-year-old theater at Barton Springs Road and Lamar Boulevard, including a completely new theater space that will serve as the main stage beginning in 2011. The campus project is also being partially funded with money from the city’s November 2006 bond election.

Specially designed for live theater productions, the new 500-seat Armstrong Family Auditorium will feature state-of-the-art technology and design elements.

Dickson’s donation will fund Zach’s Binning-Dickson Education Center.

“Zach Theatre is thrilled to have received these generous gifts from two of the city’s committed arts patrons, especially in these uncertain economic times,” says Michael Guerra, the theater’s chief development officer. “The planned addition of the Armstrong Family Auditorium and the increased support of Zach’s recognized education programs will not only help us stand out from other programs in Austin but also put us into a league with other outstanding theater centers around the country.”