ARCHITECT’S RENDERING
INSIDE THE GATE
BERRY magazine
Published three times per year for alumni and friends of Berry College and its historic schools Editor Karilon L. Rogers Managing Editor Rick Woodall (93C) Contributing Writers Debbie Rasure Joni Kenyon Design and Production Shannon Biggers (81C) Chief Photographer Alan Storey
Jason Huynh (15C)
News from You and Gifts Listings Justin Karch (01C, 10G), Carrie Rigdon and Rose Nix
A GREAT START FOR
Contact Information News from You and change of address: alumni@berry.edu; 706-236-2256; 800-782-0130; or Berry Alumni Office, P.O. Box 495018, Mount Berry, GA 30149. Editorial: rwoodall@berry.edu; 706-378-2870; or Berry magazine, P.O. Box 490069, Mount Berry, GA 30149. BERRY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION President: Frances Richey (83A, 87C) Past President: Tim Goodwin (03C) Vice Presidents: Alumni Events, Julie Patrick Nunnelly (88C, 00G); Berry Heritage, the Rev. Valerie Loner (91C); Financial Support, Jonathan Purser (85C); Young Alumni and Student Relations, Samantha Knight Tuttle (11C); Alumni Awards, Patricia T. Jackson (82C) Chaplain: Clara Hall McRae (60C) Parliamentarian: Robert Aiken (82A) Secretary: Mandy Tidwell (93C) Historian: Dr. Jennifer Dickey (77A, 80C) Director of Alumni Development Jennifer Schaknowski Vice President for Advancement Bettyann O’Neill President Stephen R. Briggs
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BERRY MAGAZINE • FALL 2016
LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER A CHALLENGE WAS ISSUED by Berry
supporter Audrey Morgan to fund a new campus theatre, construction is set to begin. At press time, final details for a 250-seat theatre with a newly-conceived black-box stage configuration were being finalized for an August start date. Late last summer, Morgan offered $1 million in matching funds to double the gifts of other donors if funding moved rapidly enough to support a summer 2016 construction start date. The challenge was highly successful with more than $5 million raised for the new
theatre. Supporters of the arts have emerged from nearly every segment of the Berry community, from trustees to parents and from alumni in classes ranging from the 1940s to the most recent. The new theatre represents a 9,226 square-foot addition to the east side of Blackstone Hall. A much-anticipated opening is expected in time for the 2017-18 academic year. Fundraising continues toward the combined goal of $6.7 million for the theatre and associated updates to Blackstone. Theatre is one of two major arts projects included in LifeReady: The Berry College Campaign for Opportunity. Also
on the drawing board is a major renovation of Ford Auditorium as a first-class recital hall for the music program. Transformation of the iconic Berry structure will include significant acoustical improvements; upgraded audience seating; improved backstage and instrumentstorage facilities; and state-ofthe-art lighting, recording and curtain systems in addition to preservation of important historic details. If, as President Steve Briggs has stated, “Great spaces inspire great performances,” the Berry community can look forward to even more exceptional arts experiences in the future. Bravo!