Royall Tyler Theatre Renewal

The Royall Tyler Theatre is More Than Just a Building

It is a vital center of creativity, learning, and community for the University of Vermont. The theatre is poised for an essential transformation to better serve our students, faculty, and the greater Vermont community.

Your support can help us ensure that the Royall Tyler Theatre remains a cornerstone of the arts for generations to come.

The Royall Tyler Theatre building, originally built as a gymnasium in 1901 and renovated into a theatre in 1974, needs significant updates to meet modern standards for accessibility, safety, and functionality.

As part of UVM’s commitment to the arts, this renovation will revitalize the theatre to:

Enhance accessibility: Installing ADA-compliant features such as a new elevator and accessible restrooms, so everyone in our community can experience the power of live performances on stage.

Improve educational spaces: Upgrading classrooms, rehearsal areas, and dressing rooms to better support our students and faculty.

Create a welcoming community hub: Renovating the lobby to provide a more interactive, flexible space that serves students during the day and hosts performances, public events, and gatherings.

Why Now?

The theatre program plays a central role in fostering creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking across campus.

However, the current state of the Royall Tyler Theatre hinders our ability to offer an inclusive and safe learning environment. Many parts of the building are not accessible to all students, faculty, and visitors, which limits the breadth of our teaching and performance capabilities​. Other areas have not been renovated in 50 years and are a hinderance to students and faculty. 

With the support of a $1 million anonymous gift, we have the momentum to start these much-needed renovations in May 2024 at the conclusion of the academic year.

However, this is just the beginning. The total estimated cost for this project is nearly $4 million, and we need your help to ensure every aspect of the project happens. 

“This gift will be an important part of getting the work started, and we will continue to fundraise for it because the needs are pretty substantial,” says Kelley Di Dio, executive director of the School of the Arts.

A Home for Performance and Community

Beyond its educational value, the Royall Tyler Theatre is a cultural hub for both UVM and the wider Burlington community. Each year, hundreds of students and community members attend performances, public lectures, and events at this historic venue.

“With this renovation, we’ll be more of a resource to the school,” says Rob Shimko, head of the Program in Theatre and Dance. “We’ll be able to host receptions, lectures, and all sorts of other public events.” UVM will not be the only beneficiary of these improvements, either, says Di Dio. “This ties directly into the mission of the School: to increase access to the arts for the larger community.”

The renovation will ensure that the Theatre continues to serve as a vibrant gathering space for creative expression and public engagement.

Opportunities to Support

Your contribution can make a lasting impact on this project, and there are many ways to get involved:

• Named Spaces: Consider naming opportunities for key areas, including the main lobby, classrooms, and accessible dressing rooms​.

• Endowed Funds: Establish a permanently endowed fund to ensure the continued upkeep and success of the theatre.

• Legacy Gifts: Make a lasting impact by including the theatre in your estate plans. A gift in your will or naming UVM as a beneficiary of your retirement fund is a powerful way to ensure that your legacy supports future generations of students and artists.

• Corporate and Foundation Support: Foundations and businesses can contribute to making the theatre a state-of-the-art venue for the arts in Vermont.

  
  

To talk to someone about your specific interests, please reach out to Marie Leahy, Director of Major Gifts at the College of Arts & Sciences, at marie.leahy@uvm.edu. 

Join Us in Bringing the Arts to Life

By supporting the Royall Tyler Theatre renovation, you’re not just contributing to a building project - you’re ensuring that future generations of students and community members can learn, create, and be inspired in a space that reflects UVM’s commitment to the arts.

“Theatre is such a great catalyst for community and shared experiences,” Di Dio says. “It can really change how we move forward together within the arts to see that kind of investment in our theatre space.”

Together, we can preserve the legacy of the Royall Tyler Theatre and transform it into a beacon of creativity and inclusion for the next 50 years.

• To talk about your interest in the project, please contact Marie Leahy at marie.leahy@uvm.edu.

• To contribute to the project today, use this link to make your gift online.