New Jersey Stage 2017: Issue 8 | Page 98

tion space to do so until the arts center opportunity was intro- duced. The new program will be launched in the fall 2019 semes- ter with performances in the new arts center. “We’ve had great demand for musical theater over the years from prospective students, and we’ve regretted telling them we don’t offer it,” said Mason Gross School of the Arts Dean George B. Stauffer. “Several of our peer Big Ten universities, most nota- bly Michigan, Northwestern and Penn State, have thriving pro- grams. It’s time for Rutgers to end this shortcoming and create our own program.” Rutgers will provide $17 mil- lion towards the construction of the arts center. Other project partners include the City of New Brunswick, Middlesex County, the New Jersey Economic De- velopment Authority, Pennrose Properties, and the New Bruns- wick Parking Authority. Together they combine to be one of the biggest public/private partner- ships in New Jersey history. “I’ve been doing this a long time, ” said Paladino. “And I’ve never seen more not-for-profit — Pennrose being our for profit partner — and governmental entities all rowing in the same direction to be able to pull off something that is transforma- tional to the city and hopefully to the arts. Not only in New Brunswick, but in New Jersey.” w Nobody covers the arts in the Garden State like New Jersey Stage! Visit our daily site at www.NewJerseyStage.com NJ STAGE 2017 - Vol. 4 No. 8 INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 98