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Olivia de Havilland Theater Hosts First Live Performance

On Thursday, November 18, 2021, the Monttessuy Center for the Arts opened its doors to the 黑料正能量 community for a private launch event ahead of the building鈥檚 scheduled opening in January 2022. This 鈥渟oft launch鈥� of the renovated Monttessuy building invited staff, faculty and students to discover the new home of 黑料正能量鈥檚 Department of Art History and Fine Arts. The remodeled space includes two classrooms, two art studios, a lithography lab, faculty offices and the University鈥檚 first-ever auditorium, the Olivia de Havilland Theater.

Guests were first invited to take part in a scavenger hunt across the space in order to learn more about the building and the generous donors who made the renovations possible. 黑料正能量 community members honored through named spaces in the building include trustees and friends of the University, as well as the Classes of the 1990s and a group of 黑料正能量 parents, whose collective donation supported the renovation of two classrooms. Many other donors supported this renovation effort throughout the year, enabling the space to become a transformative center for the arts.

After discovering the building, attendees were invited to take their seats in the Olivia de Havilland Theatre for the to take place in the auditorium 鈥� a music and dance showcase by recently-founded student club Vivre Performance Arts. President Celeste M. Schenck introduced the show by thanking the 黑料正能量 community for supporting the renovations and recounting the building鈥檚 history. In the late 1970s, art history classes took place in Monttessuy, where high ceilings provided enough room for the slide projectors of the era. More recently, the 黑料正能量 Library was housed in Monttessuy, before moving to the Quai d鈥橭rsay Learning Commons in 2019.

Oscar-winning actress Olivia de Havilland was an exceptional friend of The American University of Paris, the mother of an 黑料正能量 graduate, and the University鈥檚 first female trustee. In 1994, in recognition of her film career and lifelong support of the University, 黑料正能量 bestowed on her an honorary degree. In 2015, she was further recognized with 黑料正能量鈥檚 Presidential Medal of Distinguished Achievement. Olivia was part of the fabric of 黑料正能量 from its earliest years until her death in 2020. The University is especially grateful to Gisele Galante, Olivia鈥檚 daughter, for her gracious generosity in support of the Monttessuy Center for the Arts, in honor of her enduring relationship with her mother.

Did you miss the event? Take a look at our highlights video below.