LUBBOCK, Texas, June 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — For more than 25 years, the West Texas community of Lubbock has asked for a performance hall that will not only foster, but also attract the very best and brightest in entertainment and performing arts from across the South Plains and beyond.
Thanks to large community support, initial donations from the CH foundation and Helen Jones foundation, and a dedicated founding board, this longtime wish for Lubbock is coming true.
Enter the founding board: LEPAA, or the Lubbock Entertainment and Performing Arts Association (http://www.lepaa.org/), a non-profit organization whose goal is to raise private funds to design and eventually construct a new, dynamic entertainment and performing arts center in the downtown area of the Cultural Arts District.
"Once completed, the Entertainment and Performing Arts Center will total more than 122,000 square feet," said LEPAA chairman, Tim Collins. "This 2,000-seat, state-of-the-art theater will also house a secondary 200-seat multipurpose room available for both entertainment and educational purposes within the performing arts center."
Additionally, he added, a Grand Lobby will be constructed to seat at least 300 people for special events. The main performance hall will boast 1,100 seats at the orchestra level; 550 seats at the first balcony and an additional 350 seats at the upper balcony for optimal acoustic capabilities.
This project promises to enhance the West Texas community in a variety of ways. All completed studies indicate a new performing arts center will serve as the catalyst for Lubbock's downtown revitalization.
"This endeavor alone will boost our economy," Collins said.
Once completed, the performance hall is anticipated to generate more than $3.7 million in new sales annually and will attract visitors from Dallas to Albuquerque, NM and from Guymon, OK to San Angelo.
"LEPAA has set the stage," Collins said, "and Lubbock is now the player."