Transforming the Performing Arts

On Sept. 11, 2017, Carolina and Joan Gillings announced a historic gift to Carolina’s performing arts, benefiting PlayMakers Repertory Company. Gillings’s gift of $12 million will significantly increase the University’s performing arts programming by expanding educational opportunities for students and enhancing performance and outreach offerings available to the community. 

This is the single largest gift by a living individual to benefit the performing arts at Carolina. In honor of her transformational gift, the Center for Dramatic Art, home to the department of dramatic art and PlayMakers, will be named the Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art. 

“I acquired a love of theater while attending plays on Broadway and in London’s West End. I have been proud to serve on the Friends of PlayMakers Advisory Council since 2008, and as its chair since 2013. The high quality of PlayMakers productions, including the work of the graduate students, has inspired me to make this gift,” said Gillings. “The future of theater is in the hands of our students. I am excited about what the future holds for them.”

Read the complete Carolina Story…

This is story number 70 in the Carolina Stories 225th Anniversary Edition magazine.

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