Actor & USM Alum Tony Shalhoub Named Honorary Chair for ‘Center for Arts’ Campaign, Donates to Campaign

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Dan Crewe, of the Maine Based Bob Crewe Foundation,  Actor & USM Alum Tony Shalhoub With Chancellor Dannel Malloy at Today’s Celebration on the USM, Portland Campus.

The Team Poses for a Photo This Morning at the  Announcement of Actor Shalhoub’s Elevation to Honorary Chair of the Campaign.  Shalhoub is Third From Right with Chancellor Dannel Malloy at Far Left.

Retired Acting Teacher Tom Power, 82, With a Prize Student Tony Shalhoub This Morning on USM Portland Campus.

Actor and USM Alum Tony Shalhoub was named Honorary Chair of the Center for Arts campaign this afternoon at a celebration on the University of Southern Maine campus, Portland.  The award winning actor also announced that he is donating $150,000. to the building fund dedicated to two former classmates.

The construction company has not yet been selected according to a source in the city’s planning office.  However, it is anticipated that ground will be broken this summer with completion of the Arts Center in the fall of 2025 at the corner of Deering and Bedford Streets according to Ainsley Wallace, USM Foundation.

Chancellor Dannel P. Malloy said that this fundraising effort has been an example of how people of means will come together to support others.  They will make an investment in others, such as an educational institutional in these important moments.  The Chancellor said that we do need to raise more money.  “If there is a donation in the house, please come forward,” he said.  He thanked those who had already donated and hoped they wouild enjoy what they are doing for someone else.

Actor Shalhoub announced a $500,000 matching gift challenge offered by the Maine-based Bob Crewe Foundation.  For every $2. million raised, the Crew Foundation will make a $1. madtching gift adding momentum to an effort that has alreadyt seen trem3endous support from the community.  Now in its third and final year, USM’s “Great UIniversity Campaign” has raised $44 million to date and expects to exceed its $46 million goal.

In her opening remarks, Ainsley Wallace listed some of the possibilities for students that will come with this new edifice to the performaing arts.  They include:  Black Box Theatre productions, learning experiences in production management, including use of state-of-the art technology for lighting, set projection, and sound, flexibility of spaces to stage outdoor perfomrnaces and to develop a touring component to our curriculum, launching productions in the CFA and bringing them out to our schools and audiences throughout our state.  An ambitious agenda – just right for this group of dedicated professionals.

Shalhoub is an award wining actor with multiple stage, screen and television roles to his credit. He is well-known for his roles as a character actor.  His accolades include 5 Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, six Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Tony Award and a Grammy Award nomination.  All of this from a USM, ’77, graduate!

For more information on plans for the construction of the ‘Arts Center’, please visit post herein dated January 25, 2023.  The public meeting is at Abromson Hall, on February 2, 2023 from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm.