Campus address: 3801 Harewood Road NE
In 1960, Fr. Gilbert Hartke, head of drama at CUA, foresaw the need for a new theater for the promising department by beginning fundraising efforts. Little did he know that 6 years later, that need would become immediate when the roof of the surplus WWII warehouse collapsed under the weight of a fallen snow and the building was subsequently condemned. For the first time in University History, CUA and the drama department, with Fr. Hartke in the lead, had to fundraise to establish the funds for a building project.
Ultimately, the fundraising drive was successful, raising the nearly $2 million necessary. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new 590 seat theater was held in the Fall of 1967 with many theater, DC, and Catholic Luminaries in attendance. These included the Archbishop of DC and noted CUA alum, Ed McMahon. Dedication of the new theater happened in 1970, and the plays and performances of the noteworthy CUA drama department have been held here ever since.