Work begins on small theater for S.L. area
By Alan Edwards
Deseret News, 20 May 1999, page E2
Summary:
On 20 May 1999, Salt Lake County officials broke ground for the 500-seat Jeanne Wagner Theatre, which includes a balcony, music shell, orchestra pit, dance floor with underlying springs, and light and sound systems. When completed in the fall of 2000, it will become the new headquarters of the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. The theater will be a multi-use venue, hosting dance, music, theater, and other function.
The Jeanne Wagner Theatre cost $10.4 million, with about half coming from private donations. The Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency contributed $1.5 million.
The Jeanne Wagner Theatre is the second phase of the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. The first phase, completed in 1996, cost $3 million and features a 150-seat “black box” theater for small theater and dance companies who cannot afford more expensive venues such as the Capitol Theatre.
The Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center and Jeanne Wagner Theatre are named in honor of the Wagner family, which donated heavily to the cause. I. J. "Izzy" Wagner owned the Wagner Bag Co., which was located on the site of the Arts Center. His mother was Rose and his wife was Jeanne.