BROWARD CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS KICKS OFF $27 MILLION RENOVATION OF PARKER PLAYHOUSE WITH GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY

Published: May 1, 2019

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – April 15, 2019 – The Broward Center for the Performing Arts

has broken ground on the $27 million renovation of The Parker which will

take the iconic entertainment venue into the 21st century.

 

Donors, city and county officials, the Broward Performing Arts Foundation Board of

Directors and members of the Performing Arts Center Authority were at the Parker to celebrate the milestone.

 

“This is an exciting next step in the transformation of The Parker,” said Kelley Shanley, president and CEO of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, which has managed the Parker since 2005.  “The Parker is not only a legendary cultural and entertainment venue, it also serves as an economic catalyst and a vibrant classroom for students who attend educational programs and performances.”

 

Lisa Kitei, president of the Broward Performing Arts Foundation which is spearheading the Campaign for the Parker, announced two new donations to the campaign. JM Family Enterprises, Inc. donated $1 million and will be recognized for this important gift with the naming of the Parker stage as The JM Family Enterprises Stage. The gift exemplifies the company’s unwavering commitment to children and families and the arts-in-education programs which transform their lives.  “Giving back to the communities where we live and work is an integral part of who we are as an organization,” said Brent Burns, President and CEO of JM Family Enterprises. “Programming at The Parker enriches the lives of South Floridians through immersive cultural experiences, performances and learning opportunities. We are honored to play a role in ensuring that a focus on the arts remains strong for generations to come.”

 

Bank of America, through its community development grant program, provided a grant of $500,000 and will be recognized with the naming of the Guest Services area in the new main lobby.  “Bank of America’s partnership with the Broward Performing Arts Foundation is part of a philanthropic investment strategy to strengthen the economic health of communities across the country,” said Lori Chevy Broward County market president for Bank of America.  “Through this partnership, we’re able to contribute to the future of The Parker and its ability to continue to fuel economic development in Fort Lauderdale.”

 

The lead gift to the campaign came from S. Donald Sussman who will name the centerpiece of the new theater, the Sussman Grand Lobby. Other major gifts came from Linda Haller; Peck Foundation, Milwaukee; Deborah and Gary Wendt; Mary Jane Harlow Charitable Trust-Mary Short President; Dr. Nile and Bette Lestrange; and the Slattery Family Foundation.

 

The Campaign for the Parker received early validation when the City of Fort Lauderdale committed $6.285 million to the project in December 2017. “This is a great day in our community,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis at the groundbreaking ceremonies. “Parker Playhouse is a wonderful asset and one of the first places where theater and arts ever had a home here.  It’s the only venue I’ve ever been to in the world where there is not a bad seat.”

 

The reimagined The Parker will retain its classic elegance with many original architectural features remaining intact. The original façade of the building will come alive in the stunning new lobby. The Parker also will feature private donor and premium lounges, a signature bar area and new hospitality experiences in addition to upgraded systems, state-of the-art equipment and advanced acoustics. The popular continental seating configuration of the theater will be maintained.

 

Renovations to the Parker will begin in Summer 2019 and are expected to be completed in Winter 2020. As the project will be completed in phases, the entertainment venue is anticipated to remain operational during the 2019-2020 season. 

 

The general contractor is RCC Gulf, a joint venture between RCC Associates and Gulf Building. The architectural firm is Wilson Butler Architects and the interior design firm is ID & Design International. Representatives from all of the design and construction teams were on hand with hard hats for the groundbreaking celebration.

 

When The Parker opened in Fort Lauderdale in 1967, it was a catalyst in turning a sleepy beach town into a vibrant cultural community. Since that time, some of the biggest names in entertainment have appeared on the The Parker stage. Under Broward Center management since 2005, the Parker is home to hundreds of outstanding performances each season. The theater is also an integral part of the Broward Center’s education programs and served more than 40,000 students and their families last year.  

 

About the Broward Performing Arts Foundation

For more than 25 years, the Broward Performing Arts Foundation has been instrumental in providing support for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The Foundation was established in 1985 to deliver the required private funding to build the Center and create an endowment to sustain its operations. Over the years, the Foundation has successfully raised funds to support the Broward Center’s innovative and diverse programming, arts-in-education initiatives, community engagement activities and capital projects. Most recently, the Foundation raised $60 million to complete the Encore! capital campaign to renovate, renew and revitalize the Broward Center.

 

About the Broward Center for the Performing Arts

One of America’s premier performing arts venues, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents more than 700 performances each year to more than 700,000 patrons, showcasing a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive JetBlue Flight Deck on the Club Level, special events in the Huizenga Pavilion, waterfront dining at Marti’s New River Bistro and innovative classes and workshops for all ages at the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center. With one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, the Broward Center serves more than 130,000 students annually. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop and secure the future of the Broward Center. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.

 

About JM Family Enterprises, Inc.

JM Family Enterprises, Inc., founded by Jim Moran in 1968, is a $16.3 billion diversified automotive company ranked No. 21 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies. It is also ranked No. 17 by FORTUNE® as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For®, its 21^st consecutive year on the list. JM Family has more than 4,300 associates and its primary subsidiaries include: Southeast Toyota Distributors, the world’s largest independent distributor of Toyota vehicles; JM&A Group, one of the leading independent providers of finance and insurance (F&I) products in the automotive industry; Southeast Toyota Finance and DataScan, both part of World Omni Financial Corp., a diversified financial services company; and JM Lexus. Headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Fla., JM Family has major U.S. operations in Jacksonville and Margate, Fla.; Commerce and Alpharetta, Ga.; Mobile, Ala.; and St. Louis, Mo. Interact with JM Family on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Bank of America Environmental, Social and Governance Approach

At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).

 

THE BROWARD PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION, INC., REGISTRATION NUMBER SC-00882, MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED BY THE FLORIDA SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE 1-800-435-7352 OR CONTACTING WWW.FLORIDACONSUMERHELP.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. 100% OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS RECEIVED BY THE FOUNDATION
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