Support

The Theatre Arts Department has been a staple of the liberal arts curriculum on campus for over 75 years. And part of that curriculum is the Furman University Theatre main stage season that entertains, educates, and engages thousands of students and patrons each year. We need your help to keep the tradition of theatre alive and well at Furman! How can you help? Read on.

Interested in supporting Furman Theatre? Visit this link and choose where you’d like your money to go!

The Playhouse Project

Celebrating 53 years of theatre in The Playhouse

RE-IMAGINING THE PLAYHOUSE. Furman Theatre Arts is seeking $5-8 million in support of renovations and the possible expansion of the current Playhouse theatre facility. The Playhouse is the hub for top-quality pedagogy, programming, and performances, which includes the Furman University Theatre main stage season that entertains, educates, and engages thousands of students and patrons each year. Despite our “temporary” home remaining relatively unchanged for decades, The Playhouse has supported hundreds of theatre majors and countless other students who participate in classes, on stage, and behind the scenes. Will you donate, attend a show, or help spread the word about The Playhouse Project?

The Theatre Building Fund

John Terry Poole & Sarah Joan Moyer-Poole continue to believe that Theatre Arts at Furman University requires a permanent home. Through another generous contribution, they have established The Theatre Building Fund to put aside contributions specifically designated for significant renovations to the existing Playhouse or plans for a new theatre facility. Donate now to support future construction.

The Judy Aten Theatre Scholarship Fund

Thanks to a generous contribution from Judy & Gary Aten, the Judy Aten Theatre Scholarship fund will go to support students in financial need who intend to major in Theatre Arts. Donations can be made directly to the first endowed Scholarship Fund specifically for Theatre Arts students.

The Poole Endowed Fund

Donations to the John Terry Poole & Sarah Joan Moyer-Poole Endowed Fund provide assistance for Theatre Arts majors including new equipment & supplies, maintenance & upkeep of our aging facilities, and assisting students who may not have the means to pay for class supplies.

Theatre Arts Endowment Fund

Donations to our Theatre Arts Endowment Fund can help us with curricular enhancements to our program including:

Support guest artist designers and directors.
Support special guest artist programming and workshops.
Support for student travel to professional conferences and Study Away.
Providing opportunities for students to attend professional productions.
Professional development workshops for majors.
Support for costumes, sets, lights, props, sound, and many other expenses to create live theatre!

What Opportunities Are There for Giving?

Each year, the Furman Theatre Arts Department provides programs for students to strengthen, grow, and explore their creative talents. Endowing these programs ensure their permanence at Furman, while providing financial flexibility to the department to meet immediate needs. Such endowment opportunities include:

$450,000 to endow the four Main Stage shows that are annually produced. Such an endowment would provide permanent resources to support students and faculty as they plan and execute each theatre season.
$350,000 to endow a playwright-in-residence program in which the department hosts a guest playwright, commissions that playwright to produce a script while teaching a playwriting course. Endowing this program immediately supports Furman as a continued incubator for play development.
$150,000 to endow a guest artist program in which various artists are invited to spend 2-3 weeks at Furman to lead workshops, teach masterclasses, direct shows, design productions, supplement curriculum, and serve as a networking resource for students.

How Can You Help?

Become a Season Subscriber – making a commitment to attend the entire season shows us you value what we do! You can donate when you purchase tickets through our online ticketing system with Arts People, and the money will go directly to the Theatre Arts Department! You can also donate to the Theatre Building Fund, Judy Aten Endowed Scholarship Fund, Poole Endowed Fund, or the Theatre Arts Endowment Fund through the development office (just be sure to designate your gift to us). Or you can sponsor a show – your $5,000 can go a long way – which can get your name as a headliner and special benefits that no other patrons receive. Contact Mickie Spencer if you want to sponsor a show this season!