Original article by Hannah Morse for The Palm Beach Post
The Maltz Jupiter Theatre kicked off its $32 million expansion.
In front of an audience of about 100 people, leaders and supporters of Maltz Jupiter Theatre broke ground on the $4.2-million first phase, or Act I, of its $32-million expansion Monday.
Through its “Believe” fundraising campaign, the theater has raised $14 million, and expects another $10 million once a dollar-for-dollar matching $5 million grant from The Milton and Tamar Maltz Family Foundation is met.
Tamar Maltz said the celebration took her back 17 years, when they were seeking out any and all interested to help open the theater. She added that expansion will give actors and stagehands more room for bigger productions.
I think this expansion will make this theater one of the finest in the nation. We’re on our way already
she said.
The theater will remain open throughout construction over the summer. The first phase, which began Monday and is expected to be complete by the next season’s start in mid-October, will include adding 30 to 40 more parking spaces, landscaping, two new marquees and increasing the power capability.
William J. Gilbane Jr., vice president of Gilbane Inc. that is completing the project, said in a press release that Act I will add a new transformer and utility room in anticipation of the site’s infrastructure for the expansion.
In essence, we will be updating the building’s outdated electric service and bringing it up to current standards and sizing in preparation for Act II
he said.