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Second Century Campaign—The Theater

McGrath Family Performing Arts Center

Home of the Leemputte Family Theater

Arts matter for every student at Loyola.

All students learn better in a school that is pulsating with arts. Since the first Jesuit school opened nearly five centuries ago, the Jesuits have understood that the arts play an important role in the enrichment of the human spirit and the development of creative thinkers with the potential to transform society in positive ways.
 
A recent study conducted by the Endowment for the Arts confirms what the Jesuits have long held to be true: that students who participate in the arts perform better academically and contribute significantly more to their communities.
 
Our new theater gives Rambler artists and non-artists alike the facilities they need to engage in creative expression and exploration through expanded arts programming, as well as cross-disciplinary programming in areas such as public speaking and the sciences.

The Theater

Arts matter for every student at Loyola. All students learn better in a school that is pulsating with arts. We pledge to provide an environment that cultivates the fine and performing arts.
Since the first Jesuit school opened nearly five centuries ago, the Jesuits have understood that the arts play an important role in the enrichment of the human spirit and the development of creative thinkers with the potential to transform society in positive ways. A recent study conducted by the Endowment for the Arts confirms what the Jesuits have long held to be true: that students who participate in the arts perform better academically and contribute significantly more to their communities. To give Rambler artists and non-artists alike the facilities they need to engage in creative expression and exploration, Loyola has launched The Theater Initiative. This initiative will generate support for a fine and performing arts center with a 550+ seat theater and expanded arts programming, as well as cross-disciplinary programming in areas such as public speaking and the sciences.

View more about the Arts Program at Loyola Academy here.

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  • What the theater includes

    The new Center for the Performing Arts is strategically positioned at the northeast corner of the Loyola Academy campus, and is equipped with the following amenities to increase every Rambler's exposure to the performing arts.
    • A 29,000-square-foot building with integrated indoor and outdoor performance spaces designed to accommodate a wide variety of performing arts products
    • A dramatic entry lobby and a gallery space 
    • A 550+ seat proscenium theater with a balcony, orchestra pit and fly tower
    • Offstage rehearsal and staging areas
    • A fully equipped scene shop
    • A green room
    • Makeup and dressing rooms
    • A director's office
    • EV Charging Stations
    • State-of-the-art lighting and production technologies
    • A 125 linear foot curved glass wall overlooking an outdoor plaza that will function as an open-air performance stage and a gathering place for the Loyola community.
View the Guardians of Hope and Beauty film series, which highlights a celebration of Loyola Academy’s commitment to the arts and creativity.

Breaking News

List of 3 news stories.

  • Loyola Academy Partners with Special Gifts Theatre to Create Student Mentor Program

    Loyola Academy is pleased to announce a newly formed partnership with Special Gifts Theatre (SGT), a not-for-profit organization that was founded in 2000 to provide individuals who possess a wide array of special needs (physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and learning) the opportunity to experience the joy and enrichment that theatre arts can bring. Launched in September 2022, the SGT x LA Peer Mentor Program gives Ramblers the opportunity to work one-on-one with a Special Gifts Theatre buddy in our beautiful new McGrath Family Performing Arts Center.
    Read More
  • Loyola Academy Choirs Partner with Alumna, Recording Artist J Godwin '01 to Produce EP

    Loyola Academy Choirs Partner with Alumna, Recording Artist J Godwin '01 to Produce Exclusive EP

    The Loyola Academy Department of Fine Arts is pleased to announce a collaboration with alumna Jessica “J” Godwin ’01, an immensely talented audiovisual artist and mentor based in Brooklyn, New York. Since the beginning of May, J has led choir students through the invaluable experience of singing harmonies, building lyrics and recording music to produce an EP of their own.
    Read More

  • Loyola Academy Partnership with Northshore Concert Band to Benefit Students, Community

    Loyola Academy is pleased to announce a newly formed partnership with Northshore Concert Band (NSCB), a 100-member symphonic band active in the Chicago metropolitan area. Beginning at the start of the 2022-2023 school year, this partnership will greatly benefit Loyola students and enable NSCB to regularly utilize our beautiful new Leemputte Family Theater.
    Read More

Upcoming Events for the Arts

List of 9 events.

View All Events

McGrath Family Performing Arts Center, home of the Leemputte Family Theater

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  • Driving Directions

    From the south: Take I-94 north to the Lake Street West exit (34B). Merge on to Lake Avenue and stay in the right lane. Turn right at the first traffic light - Laramie Avenue.
    From the north: Take I-94 south to the Skokie Boulevard exit (34A). Stay in the right lane and turn right on to Lake Street. Continue over the overpass and then turn right at the next light - Laramie Avenue.
    From the west: Take Euclid/Lake Avenue east past Waukegan Road. Turn left on to Laramie Avenue. If you pass over I-94, you have gone too far east.
    From the east: Take Lake Avenue west past Skokie Boulevard. Turn right on to Laramie Avenue, which is just beyond the I-94 overpass.

  • Leemputte Family Theater Parking

    The McGrath Family Performing Arts Center, home of the Leemputte Family Theater is located at the north end of campus along Illinois Road. Complimentary parking is available in the multiple parking lots throughout campus. Limited parking is available near the Performing Arts Center. Handicap accessible parking is available in the lot adjacent to the theater entrance.

Explore the McGrath Family Performing Arts Center

List of 14 items.

  • A. Outdoor Stage

    The purpose of the outdoor stage is to continue the structure and bring the arts outside to the community. We aim for our Quad to be a centerpiece of community gatherings and activities moving forward.

  • B. Foyer

    Much like the Piazza, this space is designed to be a centerpiece that inspires beauty and imagination. It is meant to be versatile and encourage our community to gather for conversations.

  • C. Mezzanine (Upstairs)

    The Mezzanine can be used for classes or to host events. The space was built to fit a full class.

  • D. Theater House

    There is not a bad view in this 550+ seat proscenium theater with a balcony, orchestra pit and state-of-the-art lighting and production technologies The seating provides versatility to make the space full for the variety of performances.

  • E. Orchestra Pit

  • F. Main Stage

    After a visit to Steppenwolf Theater, the architects wanted to make our theater an intimate space for students. The stage is large and extends close to the seats. The sides of the stage will provide a run space for dancers. The fly tower is all about safety. Most injuries happen as students change and set up the stage, so using a fly space allows the student to pull up the props and scenes.

  • G. Scene Shop

    When planning the building, a scene shop was a must. We wanted to provide the opportunity and space for our students to design and create imaginative settings for their productions. The scene shop will also be used as a maker space and imagination hub for LA Tank.

  • H. Dressing Room

  • I. Dressing Room

  • J. Green Room

  • K. EV Charging Stations

  • L. Building Connection

  • M. Student Lounge

    The lounge was an important space for our architects who knew this building was created to welcome ALL students at Loyola Academy into the arts. This space will provide a flexible social and gathering space for the student body.

  • N. Gallery Wall

    The visual arts have a space in this building as well. The art students were a part of the planning process and wanted a place to welcome their fellow Ramblers. Our gallery will provide students the opportunity to showcase their work and collaborate with alumni and local artists.

Loyola Academy

1100 Laramie Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091-1089  |  847-256-1100
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