Explaining that a large theater that isn’t one of the many they already have is necessary for Brown performers, the administration confirmed that the new performance arts center, built in place of the current environmental studies house, will fill the demand that the other 25 campus performances spaces somehow don’t.
“Brown simply can’t compete in the performing arts if the only options for theater styles students have are a proscenium, round, three-quarter, black box, auditorium, and site-specific," explained corporation chancellor Samuel Mencoff. “It is absolutely vital that student performers have a theater that integrates the size of the 240-seat Stuart Theater, the potential of the Downspace, and the intimacy of Strasberg.”
TAPs concentrator Michael Gordley pointed out that student-performers can’t always acquire spaces due to the Theater and Performance Arts department monopolizing some of the campus performance spaces.
“And that logistical problem can only be solved by building a massive performance arts center in the middle of campus,” he concluded.
At press time, the corporation had reconsidered other historic buildings it could destroy, but agreed again that the UEL was the perfect choice.