Take a Seat Campaign
A New Era Of Theatre
Your support ensures community theatre continues to thrive in Marinette.
Thanks to generous support from Marinette County, the Herbert L. Williams has undergone renovations to create a more comfortable and accessible venue with up-to-date theatre technology. But there’s more to do. Your philanthropic investment will provide operational support to ensure Theatre on the Bay and Children's Theatre continue to delight, educate, and entertain future generations. A strong, dedicated endowment will provide long-term financial stability for performing arts at the UW-Green Bay, Marinette Campus.
How We Have Revitalized the Theatre
Technology Upgrades
Technology upgrades enhanced the theatrical experience and provided students pursuing careers in lighting and audio production the ability to learn and train on state-of-the-art equipment. The scope of the Theatre on the Bay’s technology upgrades includes:
Lights
Updated from floppy-disks to state-of-the-art digital stage and theatre lighting.
Sound
Updated to ensure all patrons are able to hear every word of performances and presentations.
Action
Added streaming technology to share theatre programming with wider audiences.
Theatre Facelift
An overall theatre facelift, including new flooring, seating, fresh paint, replaced lights and more will ensure the Herbert L. Williams Theatre remains a community mainstay for decades to come.
Seat Naming Opportunities
With substantial support from Marinette County, new, more comfortable and accessible seats have been installed in the theatre. With new seating comes an opportunity to leave your mark on the theatre with a “seat naming” pledge. Naming rights for seats are available from $600 to $1,500 and come with an engraved plate affixed to your named seat. 294 total seats are available. Show tickets must be purchased in addition to seat naming pledge.
High Exposure Naming Opportunities
In appreciation of supporting the Herbert L. Williams Theatre on the Bay and nurturing the aspiring talent of our students and community members, the following high-exposure naming rights are available.
- Theatre Lobby: $150,000
- Box Office: $75,000
- Fine Arts Gallery: $75,000
- Theatre Control Room: $30,000
- Concessions: $30,000
- Women's Dressing Room: $15,000
- Men's Dressing Room: $15,000
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the fundraiser.
Marinette County owns and maintains the fine arts building and all the buildings on the UW-Green Bay, Marinette Campus for the educational benefit of the community. The County has recently invested $600,000 toward renovations for the Herbert L. Williams Theatre. UW-Green Bay provides operational support through the Division of Continuing Education and Community Engagement for the theatre programs, including staffing. The UW-Green Bay Foundation invests capital resources to support the University’s programming on the campus.
This seat campaign is a way for you and other theatre patrons to show support for live theatre and other performing arts programming. Patrons make gifts and are recognized with a metal plate on one (or more) of the new theatre seats. These plates remain on the seats for thirty, forty or sometimes fifty years before being replaced with new seats. Gifts to the seat campaign can be pledged over a three-year period.
Naming a seat does not include tickets or reserve seat assignments. Of course, you can certainly make ticket reservations for upcoming performances and select to sit in the seat that includes your name.
Gifts for seat recognition start at $600 and range up to $1,500. Gift amounts can be made in installments over three years. There are also naming opportunities for the theatre lobby, box office, fine arts gallery, concession stand and dressing rooms.
Renovation at Herbert L. Williams Theatre began in 2022 and wrapped up in 2023.
Funds generated through the “Take A Seat” Campaign will form a permanent endowed fund, the earnings from which will support Theatre on the Bay and Children’s Theatre productions. Annual operational expenses covered include production royalties, set design and construction, wardrobe and other stage accessories, artist fees, and event marketing. Endowment income will complement earned income from ticket sales, sponsorship revenue, and University support to ensure the programs operate with financial soundness from year-to-year.
Have Questions?
If you have any questions about the Take a Seat Campaign or larger naming rights opportunities, please don't hesitate to reach out to Dave Wineburner, Marinette Campus CAO, at wineburd@uwgb.edu or 715-735-4312.