CU BOULDER TODAY: Roe Green invests $5 million in CU Boulder Theatre & Dance

Philanthropist and CU alumna Roe Green is one of CU Boulder’s largest Theatre & Dance donors to date. In recent years, Green has established both the Roe Green Theatre Artist Residency Program, as well as the department’s first endowed faculty chair. Next, she’ll take her support an astonishing step further, providing a record-breaking $5 million to support students as they seek careers in the performing arts and to give the CU Boulder University Theatre an upgrade.

The donation—the largest ever to the CU Boulder Department of Theatre & Dance—will fund an acoustic overhaul of the current UT space for $2 million. Green’s gift will also establish a $1.5 million endowed scholarship fund for theatre students and a $1 million endowed fund to support longer-term renovations, ongoing maintenance and enhancements to the venue. Another $500,000 from Green’s gift will endow innovative “launch” programming designed to propel senior theatre students to the next stage in their careers.

To recognize Green’s generosity, the university will change the name of the University Theatre to the Roe Green Theatre. After a period of renovations beginning next year, the venue is expected to formally reopen under its new name for the CU Theatre 2023-24 season and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival 2024 season.

“I like to joke that it’s not a renovation but a Roe-novation,” said Erika Randall, chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance. “The Roe Green Theatre will house world-class theatre and dance and will be a transformative space for generations of students who are deeply invested in transforming the arts and refining their creativity. We are deeply grateful for Roe and believe that her passion for the arts will forever spark future student learning.”