Staller Center for the Arts

The Staller Center for the Arts is the main arts building at Stony Brook University. It opened in 1978 as the Stony Brook University Fine Arts Center before being renamed in October 1988 after a $1.8 million donation from the Staller family.

Staller Center for the Arts
Former namesStony Brook University Fine Arts Center (1975-1988)
General information
Address100 Nicolls Road
Stony Brook, NY 11794
Construction started1972
Opened1975
Website
https://www.stallercenter.com/

Located on the main campus of Stony Brook University, it consists of two main divisions. One section houses the music and art departments, while the other consists of the theatre, media, and dance departments. The Staller Center contains three black-box theatres, a recital hall, the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery and a professional 1,000-seat performance stage that features a 40-foot movie screen and is the site of the Stony Brook Film Festival. The Staller Center has hosted several nationwide events such as the New York Science Fiction Forum in 1998 and more recently the Live Action Role Playing League's production of A Link to the Past. The black-box theaters are used by the theater arts department and Pocket Theater Club for stage performances of plays. The Staller Center has hosted speakers ranging from Bob Woodward, Margaret Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington, Stephanie Kelton and Spike Lee.[1][2]

History

In 1972, New York state legislature approved nearly $10 million for the construction of Phase 1 of the Stony Brook University Fine Arts Center, which was estimated to cost $15 million.[3] Phase 1 of the Fine Arts Center opened in 1975, consisting of classrooms, offices, rehearsal halls, a foundry, studios, and an art gallery.[4] On November 11, 1977, the Bridge to Nowhere officially opened following ten years of construction; the bridge connected Phase 1 of the Fine Arts Center with the Student Union and the Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library.[4]

Phase II of the Fine Arts Center opened in 1979. The Phase II complex consisted of the Theatre Arts and Art Gallery, experimental theatre, two ‘black box theatres,’ a recital hall, and a 1200-seat concert hall.[4] The Fine Arts Center was damaged by winter weather in January 1981.[5] The first Bach Aria Festival was held at the Fine Arts Center in June 1981, and the festival would become an annual event until 1997.[6]

In October 1988, the Fine Arts Center was renamed the Staller Center for the Arts after a $1.8 million donation from the Staller family, including real estate mogul Max Staller. The donation was the largest ever private donation given to the university at the time.[7]

In 1993, the Staller Center was flooded after a water main break in February, and it would reopen in May.[8]

Since 1996, the Staller Center for the Arts has produced the annual Stony Brook Film Festival. The festival attracts crowds of over 15,000 and takes place over a span of ten days, with films being shown in the Main Stage theater.[9][10]

The Stony Brook University Art Gallery was renamed to the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery on April 4, 2013, in honor of Alice Zuccaire and the Paul W. Zuccaire Foundation.[11] The Zuccaire Gallery is a 5,000-square foot space that showcases professional and student exhibitions.[12]

Description

The Staller Center has five theaters as well as the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery, which is over 5,000 square feet. The Main Stage theater contains a 40-foot screen and seats approximately 1,050, the Recital Hall seats 380, while the three black box theaters seat from 75 to 225.[13]

References
  1. "Cutting-Edge Economist Stephanie Kelton Delivers Presidential Lecture |". SBU News. 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  2. Brown, Maya (2020-02-09). "Spike Lee delivers an authentic and timely lecture at opening of Black History Month". The Statesman. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  3. Nyitray, Kristen J. "Research & Subject Guides: SBU: History and Timeline: Timeline: 1970-1974". guides.library.stonybrook.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  4. Nyitray, Kristen J. "Research & Subject Guides: SBU: History and Timeline: Timeline: 1975-1979". guides.library.stonybrook.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  5. Nyitray, Kristen J. "Research & Subject Guides: SBU: History and Timeline: Timeline: 1980-1984". guides.library.stonybrook.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  6. "Bach Festivals & Cantata Series: Bach Aria Festival and Institute". www.bach-cantatas.com. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  7. Nyitray, Kristen J. "Research & Subject Guides: SBU: History and Timeline: Timeline: 1985-1989". guides.library.stonybrook.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  8. Nyitray, Kristen J. "Research & Subject Guides: SBU: History and Timeline: Timeline: 1990-1994". guides.library.stonybrook.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  9. "Stony Brook Film Festival". VIMOOZ. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  10. "History | Stony Brook Film Festival". www.stonybrook.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  11. "About – Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery". Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  12. "About the Gallery | Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery". www.stonybrook.edu. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  13. "History | Staller Center at Stony Brook University". www.stonybrook.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-26.


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