The brand-new Theatre Arts Building is similar in spirit to the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences: full of character, creativity, and innovation.
A bright yellow staircase and black box theater distinguish the 15,000-square-foot building, which is situated along Dickinson Drive across from the Patti & Allan Herbert Wellness Center and adjacent to Centennial Village.
“The College is grateful for all the supporters who made the new Theatre Arts Building possible,” said Leonidas Bachas, dean of the College. “It provides our faculty and students with world-class training and learning spaces, building the foundation for their continued success in the performing arts.”
The building, designed by MATEU Architecture Inc., opened at the beginning of the Spring 2025 semester and features a 60-seat black box theater on the ground floor that can be used for performances, acting classes, lectures, and presentations.
On the second floor, individual practice rooms and a spacious dance and movement studio overlook the lush greenery outside. Other highlights of the new building include modern classrooms and faculty offices, private changing rooms, and a student lounge where students can eat, practice, and collaborate in between classes.
Jennifer Burke, chair of the Department of Theatre Arts, emphasized that students and faculty are thrilled with their new space. “We’re all inspired by the beautiful facilities and the commitment of the many people who made them possible,” she said. “The department has unprecedented visibility on campus, and after many months in remote classrooms, the renewed sense of community is exciting.”
This excitement was evident at a celebratory event in January, which attracted dozens of students, faculty, and staff for a 1950s-style sock hop in the dance and movement studio, officially launching a new era.
The construction of the new building was supported by many donors, including award-winning producer Jayne Baron Sherman, an alumna of the College.
The College has a long history of producing alumni who have gone on to achieve success in Hollywood and on Broadway. In addition to Sherman, they include Steven Bauer, who is best known for his role in “Scarface”; the Broadway composer, lyricist, and producer Jerry Herman; and the contemporary Broadway actor Uma Paranjpe, who previously played the lead role in “Life of Pi.”
