Patricelli '92 Theater
The Patricelli '92 Theater, on College Row, is Wesleyan's oldest theater venue. Used by the Theater and Dance departments, it hosts faculty and student productions.
History
The library in North College was growing and space was limited. Seeing the need for another building on campus to house Wesleyan's growing collections, the president comissioned the building of Rich Hall, funded in part by benefactor Isaac Rich and alumni. It was built in the Gothic Revival style, which was fashionable in Middletown following the Civil War, and completed in 1868.
After nearly six decades, Rich Hall, too, became too small for its needs and another building was comissioned in 1928, Olin Library. For two years, Rich Hall was used as a classroom. This was seen as missed potential, and in 1930, Rich Hall was renovated into a black box theater. After contributions from the class of 1892, it was later rechristened Little Theater '92.
Renovation
As part of Weslseyan's campus master plan, '92 Theater, along with the Memorial Chapel, was renovated from January 2001 to June 2002, with the goal of restoring the buildings to their original conditions. Over the course of the year and a half renovation, their exteriors were restored, and elevators, restrooms, and wheel-chair accessible ramps were installed. In a 2000 memorandum, Bob Saltonstall, Director of Facilities mentioned that the renovations were for "another 50 - 100 years of useful life."
While the theater was being renovated, inconvenienced students turned to other venues: the Alpha Delt common room and the Davenport multipurpose room.
References
- Hopcroft, Jen. "Quiet Studying and Book Loans at the '92." Wesleyan Argus Sept. 2000.
- Saltonstall, Bob. Memo. 1 Sept. 2000. Wesleyan University Archives.
- Campus Master Planning— Memorial Chapel / '92 Theater Renovation