The Grand's Second Century:

For nearly 100 years, The Grand Theater has been the community living room, a place where moments turn into memories. Now, a new act is about to begin. We invite you to be part of the most important chapter in our history: a transformative $17 million campaign to ensure The Grand's future. This is more than a renovation—it's an essential investment in the heart of our community.

A Legacy Reinvigorated

Join us in building a vibrant future worthy of The Grand's legacy.

It’s time.

100 years of entertainment!

For generations, The Grand has stood as a beacon of arts and culture, but our landmark facility is showing its age. Its historic foundation, while beautiful, requires critical investment to thrive for the next 100 years.

We must act now to:

  • Make the building you know and love even better for you in ways you haven’t thought of yet! 

  • Preserve our iconic architecture while modernizing vital systems

  • Continue to bring the best entertainment loved for a century to Wausau

Street view of historic buildings with shops, art galleries, and cars parked along the curb, under a blue sky.

This isn't about maintaining the past; it's about building a sustainable, accessible, and vibrant future.

A theater audience watching a stage performance in a large auditorium with ornate architecture.

The time to invest is now. Your participation is a vote of confidence in the transformative power of the arts and in the heart of our community.

It's an investment.

Ensure world-class experiences for generations

Your investment in the Second Century Campaign will directly fund these critical project areas.

Red theater seats with wooden armrests against a white background.

The Historic Theater: Our new seats will all be bigger than the ones you find on your favorite discount airline! This improves everyone’s sightlines, too. Your investment will make every show a more comfortable and unforgettable experience.

The Great Hall: We are transforming this space into a dynamic, versatile venue. With enhanced acoustics and flexible setups, it will host everything from elegant banquets and vibrant receptions to intimate performances.

The Historic Lobby: We are going back in time to thoughtfully reimagine our historic entrance. Your support will help us preserve its timeless beauty – the stained glass, crown molding and historic character – while making it fully accessible and more welcoming for all.

Backstage & Artist Hospitality: We are making essential upgrades behind the curtain, including modern dressing rooms and hospitality areas. This investment will allow us to continue to attract and accommodate top-tier talent from around the world.

Large, metallic industrial pipes running along a building's exterior wall, with a glass ceiling above.

Critical Infrastructure: The building’s foundation, from its roof to its HVAC system, requires urgent modernization. Your investment protects our historic landmark for the long term, ensuring The Grand remains safe, sustainable, and ready for its Second Century.

It will take all of us.

Restore and revitalize the heart of our community

Color swatches on a white surface with a red velvet curtain, a patterned rug, and two red fabric samples nearby.

The Second Century Campaign represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance to restore and revitalize a treasured icon, and to ensure future generations can experience exceptional live entertainment locally.

With your generous support, you help preserve and honor the past, while transforming and modernizing the venue to meet the rising expectations of audiences and artists alike.

Financial gauge showing a range from $0 to $17 million, with the needle pointing to approximately $13 million.

Campaign Progress

GOAL: $17M

Thanks to our generous donors, as of July 10th, we have raised $13,000,000 of our $17,000,000 goal!

Have questions?

Your passion for The Grand is what makes this project possible. We've done our homework to ensure every decision we're making is thoughtful, responsible, and centered on you, our patrons. Here are some of the most common questions about our Second Century Project and Campaign.

We're in this together. Every action, big or small, helps us bring The Grand into the Second Century.

  • 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 in time for our 100th anniversary season in 2026- 2027!

  • 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

Thank you for considering a donation to The Grand Theater’s Second Century Campaign, and for being a vital part of our 100th Anniversary.

Need Help? Contact:

Tessa Taylor, Director of Development
715.842.0988 ext. 231
ttaylor@grandtheater.org

A smiling woman with straight, shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a gray blazer over a floral top, standing indoors near a lamp and a sign that reads 'Aisle 1'.