NEA Big Reads Kickoff Party

About This Event:

The Renaissance Performing Arts Association received an NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) Big Read Grant to conduct a community read of Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon in partnership with the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, Mayor Culliver's Office, Mansfield City School District, Culliver Reading Center, Main Street Books, The Ohio State University at Mansfield, the Ohio Education Association (OSEA) and the Mansfield City Schools Laundry Basket Library Program. This grant is a $15,000 matching grant that empowers the Renaissance and these partnering organizations the opportunity to offer a myriad of focused activities for the community.

Mansfield/Richland County is one of 268 communities nationwide participating in The Big Read from September 2009-June 2010. To date, the NEA has funded more than 800 Big Read programs in the nation's towns and cities. From February 21 to March 31, 2010, our community will celebrate The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett with a full calendar of events.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Transportation for The Big Read is provided by Ford.

This kick off event will feature food, drinks and an opportunity to learn more about how you can get involved in the Big Read program.  For more information on the Renaissance's stewardship of this program, visit this section of our website.

About the Two Week Gala:

A thrilling new chapter in the history of the Renaissance Theatre will unfold today when the new grand lobby is opened to the public for the first time. Renaissance CEO, Terri Bergman, credits the many donors and supporters of "The Ren" for making the dream a reality. "It is exciting to see a group of people with a common goal unite and change the life of an organization. The past year in the life of the Renaissance has done just that."

The premiere showplace for the arts in North Central Ohio, the Renaissance began its life in the late 1920s as the Ohio Theatre, a grand "movie palace". After years of neglect, the theatre was refurbished in the early 1980s by a group of dedicated citizens. "This 80-year old ‘crown jewel' of a theatre has seen many changes over the years, but nothing like this!" says General Manager Brandon Smith. The home of the Mansfield Symphony, Neos Dance Theatre and a wide variety of original and national touring productions, the renowned performing arts facility will almost double in size when the new addition opens in early 2010. "This is a dream that began many years ago," states Bergman, "and it's now our privilege to reveal that dream."

Visitors to the new facility will discover a significant increase in restroom facilities with special emphasis on the needs of handicapped, senior patrons and parents with small children. Defined work areas and expanded offices will provide optimum working space for the administration staff. In addition, the original heating system has been replaced with a high energy efficient HVAC System. "One of the most exciting components of the new building will be the elevator," says Bergman. "It will allow total accessibility to all areas of the theatre for the first time in the building's history." The new lobby also features a glass bridge, expanded box office and concession areas, a coat check and conference and meeting rooms. "The new addition, along with the renovated façade of the entire building, will benefit and delight audiences for years to come," adds Bergman.