“Standing on the stage of the Warner Grand Theatre in downtown Milwaukee recently brought back a lot of memories” of the former movie palace, writes Mark Kass in Friday’s (5/18) Milwaukee Business Journal (Wisconsin). “But for the last 20 years or so, it has sat vacant on the city’s main downtown street, a wasted time for a historic building located in the heart of Milwaukee. That will change over the next two years thanks to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, with a lot of generous support from Milwaukee’s philanthropic community. The MSO acquired it in December, and plans an extensive project that will restore the theater while also expanding the building. Starting in fall 2020, it will become the new home of the MSO, replacing the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. A $130 million fundraising effort is underway for the project…. Beyond restoring the original building, the MSO will expand it … for a new lobby with dressing rooms and bathrooms.” Addressing a group of community and business leaders that toured the building, MSO Board Chair Andy Nunemaker said, “This is an historic gem that would’ve been lost forever if not for this project.”
Posted May 22, 2018
