It's a great question, and the simple answer is: It's time. For nearly 100 years, The Grand has been home to countless memories, but our building and its vital systems are now at a critical point. 

This comprehensive project is the smartest way we can ensure The Grand is not only ready for its next century but also provides an even better experience for you. Cost-efficient, audience-centered, and patron first. Those are the guiding principles of the project!

We hear this question a lot, and it's something we are absolutely committed to. We have partnered with experts in historic preservation who are guiding every decision. Our goal is to honor the building's original beauty while making it more functional and comfortable for modern audiences and artists. We believe this careful work will help The Grand shine even brighter for its next century. We are delighted with what they’ve discovered about the original character of the theater, and are thrilled to bring that vision to life again.

The main work will take place in what we’re calling the “long summer” of 2026. We’ve planned it this way so we can be cost-efficient and still have as many shows as possible! Some of the improvements will be obvious, while others will be behind the scenes. All work will be completed by November 7th, 2026, the first night of our 2026-2027 season!

The total cost is $17 million. We’ve had a strong start, raising more than $13 million during the leadership phase of the campaign. Now, we need everyone’s help to finish the funding of the project.

Yes! We are replacing the old movie theater seats which pre-date the 1987 renovation. The new seats are larger, and we will adjust the floor plan for improved sightlines throughout the theater. While we may lose a few individual seats in the process, these changes are critical for bringing the theater up to modern standards and providing a much more comfortable experience for our audiences.

Yes, cupholders are part of our plan for the theater, because we are in Wisconsin after all!

A lot. We want you to be able to hear a conversation by the time we’re done improving the acoustics! Beyond turning down the volume on the noise in the Great Hall, we plan to update the very dated looking décor. And, we are eliminating the chokepoint at the entrance so it will be smooth sailing to get into the theater. Big improvements that we think will really enhance your experience even before you get into the show.

Well, not exactly. We are most definitely investing in permanent lighting and audio capabilities for that space, so that more community meetings, gatherings, retirement parties and even smaller shows can take advantage of those built-in amenities. And, we will have flexible stage options. Together these changes will bring the Great Hall into a new era of purpose for our community.

Your legacy is important to us. All previous plaques will be remade and placed on the back of a new seat.

1. Make a donation. You can make a single payment or set up a three-year pledge. We also accept all forms of payment, including gifts of stock.

2. Share your story. We believe The Grand's history is in all of us. What are your core memories of the Grand? We'd love to hear them.

• Spreading the word about the campaign with friends and family.

• Attending a show and bringing new guests with you.

• Volunteering for our organization.m description

We know you feel sentimental about this, and we do too! The feet are bolted and anchored into the concrete, which is why we've been able to use these seats for 40+ years. But this also means it's really hard to get them out. The lengths we have to go to remove the seats make them essentially "unsittable" and unstable on the base.

Because of this, and the tight construction schedule, we will not be offering the current seats to the public. Don't worry, though, this part of our history will still live on! We will keep a few seats and archive them, as we have done in the past.