Veritas, Vol. 20, No. 11, February 11, 1980

              A major gift has launched a fund-raising campaign to construct a multi-million dollar theatre complex at the UM.
The gift of stock in a New Jersey land corporation came from the Development Corporation of America (DCA), Alvin Sherman, president, it was announced by UM President Henry King Stanford.
Sherman is a member of the UM’s Society of University Founders. The Hollywood, Florida-based DCA will be named to the Society at the annual March banquet.
Alan Radcliff, prominent University benefactor who was responsible for acquiring the gift, has been named general chairman by President Stanford to head the entire project, including the fund raising campaign. He said a series of special events is being planned for the campaign.
In the next two years, the UM will seek to raise further funds for the drama complex which would house several theatres and support facilities.
An effort will be made to create the first energy-efficiefit theatre in America, utilizing a solar heat exchange system of air conditioning. Federal funds will be sought for this purpose.
The plan provides for constructing the project in phases to accommodate the amount of gift support secured by the theatre committee.
Plans for the multi-theatre complex are being drawn by Herbert Johnson, formulat-or of the original campus Master Plan, known for his designs for the Bal Harbour Shops.
The complex would encompass 60,000 square feet. One theatre would be proscenium-type, with 600 seats, including a balcony. Another would be a 500-seat thrust-stage theatre which projects the stage into the audience. The third, an experimental "cube” theatre with 200-300 removable seats providing flexible space, would allow
President Stanford announces major gift to launch fund-raising drive for multi-theatre complex. Behind him are Alan Radcliff, general chairman of the campaign; Hank Diers, drama department chairman; Herbert Johnson, architect and Ron Headlin, associate architect.
drama students to work on different levels in new-type plays.
The complex would include three large rehearsal halls, teaching facilities, prop storage, dressing rooms, a student lounge and space for video taping productions. Parking will be provided for 550 cars.
Several campus sites are being considered by the University which would reduce traffic congestion in the central campus area where the Ring Theatre now stands.
University theatre activities under the direction of Dr. Hank Diers, chairman of the drama department, now occupy the Ring Theatre and Theatre Arts Building.
Constructed in 1951, the Ring was built as a "cement tent,” to replace a canvas structure damaged in a hurricane. The theatre
has gradually improved and is now air conditioned and comfortable through the efforts of the Friends of Theatre, which Mr. Radcliff founded in 1971 for that purpose.
However, limited in size and shape to certain forms of theatre, the Ring offers problems to both theatre experts and to theatre-goers in search of parking.
Dr. Diers has developed a major theatre program which requires simultaneous use of several theatres in order to present the more than 17 productions staged annually. The Ring usually operates at more than 90 percent capacity. Ring graduates have included Jerry Herman, Robert Horton, the late Michael Dunn, Andrew Prine, Robert Drivas, Tina Louise, Joanne Pflug, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Solomon, and local personalities Jack Metzger and Jeanne Wolf.
Radcliff, interested in the Ring because of its successful "Fiddler on the Roof’ production in the early 1970s, began efforts to improve drama facilities, establish scholarships, and search for funding for a new theatre. Active in community service, Radcliff is a member of the UM’s Society of
University Founders, served as campaign chairman of the University of Miami Citizens Board, member of the board of directors of the Lowe Art Museum and Friends of Art, and president emeritus of the Friends of Theatre.
In 1974 he was elected as "Outstanding Citizen of Dade County” and won the "Governor’s Award for the Fine Arts.” He also served as chairman of the Miami Philharmonic, chairman of the board of trustees for the Players Repertory Theatre, founder and chairman of Friends of the Coconut Grove Playhouse, vice president and member of the board of governors of the Museum of Science.
Two committees have been appointed by Radcliff to work in the fund drive. Mrs. S. R Costanzo will head the special events committee composed of Mrs. Herbert Johnson, Mrs. Lewis Rosenstiel and Mrs. Alan Radcliff. The development committee, now in formation, includes Dr. Robert Edwards, 1980 president-elect of the Friends of Theatre, and Richard Wolfson, executive vice president of Wometco Enterprises.
Three theatres seating 1300 and support facilities designed by Herbert Johnson, architect.
Supreme Court comes to UM
About 550 UM students met at The Rock in front of the Whitten Student Union Wednesday, Jan. 23, to protest a proposed tuition increase for the 1980-01 academic year. Although the University budget committee has discussed increasing undergraduate tuition, now at S3,940 a year, UM President Henry King Stanford will not make his recommendations to the Board of Trustees until Feb. 19.
The Florida Supreme Court will visit the UM School of Law Monday, Feb. 11, at 10:30 a.m. to discuss appellate procedure and argument w4th students.
Before the justices talk, UM President Henry King Stanford will dedicate Moot
Court Room 109 which was furnished with funds donated by Reba Engler Daner.
Attending will be Chief Justice Arthur J. England, Jr., and justices James Atkins, Joseph Boyd, James Alderman, Ben Overton, Parker Lee McDonald and Alan Sundberg.