Walker’s Theatre Reimagined

Our Performing Arts are Taking Center Stage

Walker’s Theatre Reimagined

Thanks to $10 million from a combination of gifts from an anonymous donor couple, and from alumna and trustee Alexandra “Alex” Badger Airth ‘83 along with her mother Jacqueline B. Mars P’83, Walker’s is reimagining Ferguson Theatre.

Currently in its construction phase, the project will revitalize and completely redesign the campus’s main performing arts space, from creating a modernized lobby and updating lighting, stage, and theatre design, to providing new heating and cooling.

Projected Completion for Spring 2027

The head-to-toe overhaul of the 57-year-old theatre is scheduled to be completed at the close of the calendar year. The plan is that the theatre will be ready for occupancy and performances in Spring 2027.

New Features

Reimagined from the ground up, Walker’s theatre will anchor its prominent corner of campus. When the lights are on inside, the building will glow, drawing the eye to the energy of the productions onstage within. This state-of-the-art theatre will be in use year-round for Walker’s students and the wider community alike.

  • Audience capacity growth from 375 seats to over 420 seats, providing more opportunities for performances and events
  • A new stage floor and LED lighting panel
  • Flexibility for pit orchestra space
  • Improved access to stage and technical theatre resources
  • Brand new heating and cooling systems
  • Welcoming lobby and outdoor patio spaces for hosting gatherings and events
  • Updated and accessible restrooms

 

A New Chapter of Walker’s Performing Arts

Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair and Director of Dance Cheri Soule eagerly anticipates upcoming performances and seeing a new curtain rise on Walker’s dance.

“We are so excited for the theatre renovations, as they will help move the performing arts forward within our curriculum and productions,” she says. “The new space will look to the future while honoring the rich traditions of dance and theatre that have long been part of Walker’s. It will be a wonderful reflection of the strong and continued support for the arts at Walker’s.”