Theater at Washington and Lee

The John and Anne Wilson Hall, named for former Washington and Lee president John D. Wilson and his wife Anne, and dedicated in October 2006, is the most recent gem in the University’s crown of the arts.  Housing the departments of Music and Art, Wilson Hall also contains a 300 – seat state of the art Concert Hall which plays host not only to the University’s many student, faculty, and ensemble groups, but also world renowned concert artists.  The Staniar Art Gallery  is also an excellent venue for the works of student, faculty and professional artists.  Wilson Hall itself is a 65,000 square foot building project designed by the firm of Zimmer Gunsul and Frasca, and constructed by Brice Building Company of Birmingham, Alabama.  Brice Building is headed by Felix Drennen, III, W&L Class of ’73.

Since opening in 1991, the Lenfest Center has helped the University provide the fine arts component of an exceptional liberal arts education. Housing over 125 performances each year and hosting over 30,000 patrons, the center has become the region's performing arts center. Countless rehearsals and an ongoing schedule of classes make the Lenfest Center a lively and dynamic educational facility.

The history of the university's long relationship to the arts dates back to its most illustrious early donor and first namesake, George Washington. In making an important gift to the struggling school in 1796, the First President noted, "To promote literature in this rising empire, and to encourage the arts, have ever been amongst the warmest wishes of my heart. And if the donation is likely to prove a means to accomplish these ends, it will contribute to the gratification of my desires."

H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest received his B.A. in economics from Washington and Lee in 1953. At W&L, Lenfest was a four-year member of the soccer team, the Forensic Union, and Sigma Chi fraternity. He spent the next two years after W&L in the U.S. Navy before enrolling in Columbia University's law school. Upon graduation in 1958 with an LL.B., Mr. Lenfest joined the New York law firm of Davis, Polk & Wardwell.

As an attorney, Mr. Lenfest gravitated toward the field of communications. In 1965, he became associated counsel for Triangle Productions, Inc. and later became managing director of Triangle's Communications Division, which included Seventeen magazine and the company's cable television subsidiaries.

In 1973, Mr. Lenfest and two other investors purchased the Lebanon, Pa. cable television system from Walter Annenburg, president of Triangle. The Lenfest group operates cable systems in the San Francisco bay area and in metropolitan areas of Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pa.

Mr. Lenfest was elected to Washington and Lee's Board of Trustees in 1988. That same year, he and his wife Marguerite donated the major funding to the new center for the performing arts that bears their name.  When the need arose for a new art and music facility Gerry and Marguerite once again stepped forward with the lead gift to an already grateful University, this time insisting that the building’s name bear that of former W&L President John Wilson and his wife Anne.

Marguerite B. Lenfest is a graduate of Wilson College with a B.A. in sociology. Currently secretary and treasurer for the Lenfest Group, she has been actively involved with the company since its founding. She has maintained an active role in the operations of Surburban Cable TV Co., Inc. in Sellersville, Pa. and in the financial planning for all the operations of the Lenfest Group. The Lenfests have three children: Diane, Chase and Brook.

"[The Lenfest Center] promises to enrich the learning experience at the university and provide the surrounding region with a contemporary, state-of-the-art facility for music, drama, and dance."
  -H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest

Keller Theatre

The Keller Theatre is a 415 seat proscenium theatre. The proscenium opening is 41' wide by 24' tall. The stage area behind the curtain is 30' deep by 77' wide.Equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting, full theater rigging, a supurb sound system, and elevator type orchestra lift, the Keller boasts an impressive stage house capable of handling most performances.

Johnson Theatre

The Johnson Theatre is a 48 ft.x 58 ft.flexible "black box" theater. The space may be arranged in any configuration desired by the director and designer including proscenium, arena and thrust. The theater is fully equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound.

Stan Kamen Gallery

The Stan Kamen Collection was bequeathed to Washington and Lee in 1986 by Stan Kamen '49 LL.B. The collection is permanently installed in the lobby of the Lenfest Center for the Arts and is regularly rotated for conservation purposes.

The collection offers a view of the American West and particularly the "Old West" that has been created by some of America's foremost 20th-century artists.

Maslansky Rehearsal Hall

The Maslansky Rehearsal Hall is one of the busiest spaces in the Lenfest Center. The Rehearsal Hall serves as the classroom for Acting I & II and Directing I & II. It is the rehearsal space for department of theater productions before they move to the theaters and it is the rehearsal space for some of the W&L Dance classes.

Scene Shop

The Scene Shop is the classroom for Fundamentals of Theater Art I & II. Scenery and properties for all the department of theater shows are built and painted here.

The shop is well equipped with all manner of tools allowing for the safe and efficient construction of scenery.

The shop operates from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Costume Shop

The Costume Shop is located in the basement of the Lenfest Center directly across the hall from the dressing rooms. It is fully equipped for alterations and full construction in sewing and costume crafts.

The Department of Theater buys, rents, builds and utilizes stock items from their collection to satisfy the needs of productions.

Dressing Rooms

The theaters are serviced by two large choral dressing rooms each capable of holding 15 people. The dressing rooms are equipped with bathrooms and showers.