When Orpheum Theatre president and CEO Pat Halloran retires this December, he will have served the theatre for 35 years. In honor of his legacy, the Board of Directors of the Memphis Development Foundation (MDF), which operates the historic Orpheum Theatre, will name the Foundation’s newest addition after him — The Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education.
From the press release: “There’s no one more deserving of this honor,” says MDF Board Chairman Andy Taylor. “Pat’s vision for this Educational Centre has inspired not only the Board of Directors, but the entire community. What we do to educate and expose our children to the arts today will pay huge dividends to the Memphis of tomorrow. The Board chose to honor the man whose vision put us on this course and to recognize all Pat Halloran’s accomplishments over the past 35 years by naming the Educational Centre in his honor. The Orpheum, the Centre, the success of the MDF during Pat’s tenure is a legacy to be celebrated.”
During his time with the Orpheum, Halloran implemented several programs to serve the Mid-South. Those programs continue to impact people of all ages in our community. More than 66,000 students and teachers participate in The Orpheum’s education programs each year. The 39,000-square-foot Halloran Centre will help to extend the reach of these programs, supplement existing space for educational programming, add a second 355-seat theatre, feature a cutting-edge audio/video lab, and offer rentable facility space.
Expanded programming will allow for new performing arts, technical theatre, leadership, and personal growth and development classes. The Centre will also host concerts, corporate seminars, a documentary film series, and other special events. Once opened, the Halloran Centre will allow Orpheum Education programs to serve 100,000 people per year.
The building, which is located on Main Street next to the Orpheum Theatre, will be formally dedicated as The Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education in conjunction with Halloran’s upcoming “Roast” on Thursday, September 24th. The event will be a celebration of Halloran’s 35-year tenure, as well as a fundraiser for the new Centre.
Last month, the Orpheum Theatre shared an update on the Centre’s progress, a year after the initial groundbreaking. Members of the community still have several opportunities to show their support for the Centre before its official opening. The Halloran Centre Brick Campaign allows donors to leave a lasting legacy on the Centre’s walkway. Bricks are tax deductible and available at $2,500 for an 8x8 brick or $1,000 for a 4x8 brick. For more information about how to purchase a brick, make a personal or corporate donation to the Halloran Centre, or reserve tickets to the Halloran Roast, contact Leanne McQuown at 901.525.7800 or mcquown@orpheum-memphis.com or visit www.orpheum-memphis.com.
