Last Beam of New Theater and Dance Facility in Place

HARRISONBURG - The last beam of the theater and dance venue of the new performing arts center at James Madison University will be lifted into place on Friday, September 5. A topping off ceremony will be held to commemorate the occasion. 

The topping off ceremony will begin at 3:30 p.m. in room 111 of the University Services Building (181 Patterson Street). Senior university administrators and lead performing arts center donors will be on hand to sign the beam before it is raised into place. 

With its state-of-the-art facilities for theater, dance and music performances, rehearsal and support rooms, classrooms and faculty offices, the performing arts center will benefit the Shenandoah Valley by offering a high-quality home for outstanding performing arts events featuring JMU and guest artists. 

The new center, to be named in honor of Bruce and Lois Forbes, will feature the Dorothy Thomasson Estes Center for Theatre and Dance with a proscenium theater, a black box theater for student productions, a dance performance studio theater and customized academic and rehearsal space. The Shirley Hanson Roberts Center for Music Performance, encompassing a concert hall and a recital hall, completes the new performing arts center. 

Parking for the topping off ceremony is available in the Warsaw Avenue Parking Deck.