Don and Ellen Scott P'10 make a lead gift for expanding performing arts facilities, including new acting and dance studios.
Elon parents Don and Ellen Scott have made a $750,000 gift to the university as the lead contribution for expanding the Department of Performing Arts.
The Scotts’ gift is the first significant commitment for the project to be named the Scott Studios. The nearly 13,000-square-foot expansion will serve students in the acting, dance, music theatre, theatre studies, and theatrical design and production programs.
The added space will complement the department’s home in the Center for the Arts, which includes McCrary Theatre, Yeager Recital Hall, Black Box Theatre, and several dance and rehearsal studios.
“The Department of Performing Arts is one of the jewels of Elon University,” Don Scott said. “Ellen and I hope our contribution will help Elon achieve complete funding for the studios.”
Blueprints for the renovated space are still being finalized with the intent of including a studio theatre, a rehearsal studio similar in size to the McCrary Theatre stage, a dance studio and music rehearsal space.
Currently, students and faculty must use McCrary Theatre and Yeager Recital Hall for rehearsals and live performances. Both venues regularly host major campus events throughout the academic year, limiting the time performing arts students can use those facilities.
“This expansion is going to take performing arts at Elon to the next level in the complexity of shows we can do, as well as enhance the outstanding performances we are already doing,” says Fred Rubeck, chair of the department of performing arts. “It will allow us to model for our students the professional theatre and dance experience and enable them to remain competitive on the national stage.”
Don and Ellen Scott of Denver, Colorado, are the parents of Teddy Scott ’10, an alumnus of Elon’s nationally acclaimed music theatre program.