The University of Southern Maine (USM) is raising money to build a Center for the Arts that will be located on the Portland campus. The Center for the Arts is the focal point of the university’s Great University Campaign, the largest fundraising initiative in USM history. On January 26th, award-winning actor Tony Shalhoub was presented as the honorary chair of the Center for the Arts campaign and pledged $150,000 of his own money as a gift to the campaign. So, what is Shalhoub’s connection to the university? 

Shalhoub is a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, but first studied acting at USM. Shalhoub graduated from USM in 1977 with a theater degree and later earned his Master of Fine Arts at Yale School of Drama in New Haven, Connecticut. Afterwards, Shalhoub spent four years at the respected American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Shalhoub then moved to New York, where his acting career prospered with early and ongoing success on Broadway, in films, and on television. Shalhoub won a Tony in 2018 for best lead actor in a Broadway musical for his role in “The Band’s Visit.” He is a part of the cast of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award. He is also well known for starring in the popular television series “Monk,” which earned him a Golden Globe and three Emmys.

Even though Shalhoub graduated from USM in 1977, he enjoys staying connected to the university. In 2003, he returned to USM to give the commencement speech and receive a Distinguished Achievement award. Shalhoub also served as a USM Foundation Board member and made a remarkable philanthropic contribution to Transforming USM: The Capital Campaign (TUSM) in 2006. At the press conference held on January 26th, Shalhoub praised USM’s theater program. Shalhoub credited USM and his former theater professors for allowing him to study at Yale School of Drama. He said he would have never made it into Yale without their guidance and training. One of those professors, Tom Power, was in the audience. “You can’t help but be proud,” Power said after the event. While attending USM, Shalhoub said that he spent a lot of time performing with the Children’s Theater of Maine, which was run by Power at the time. “We were touring and performing for kids in schools all over the state,” Shalhoub said. “And then, during the summer, when we weren’t in classes, we were holding workshops for young kids and doing performances for their families. I will be forever indebted to this institution – to this entire community – for encouraging, supporting, and guiding me as I set out on my path.”

Along with his donation, Shalhoub announced a $500,000 matching gift challenge for the Center of the Arts offered by the Crewe Foundation. The Crewe Foundation was created by Dan and Bob Crewe to support the arts and LGBTQ+ communities in Maine. For every $2 raised, the Crewe Foundation will make a $1 matching gift. The money raised for the Great University Campaign will help fund the building project, scholarships, and investments in university programs in both Portland and Gorham. Dannel Malloy, the chancellor of the University of Maine System, said that the Great University Campaign has already raised $44.5 million of its $46 million goal. Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson, the president of USM, said, “With Tony at the helm, fueled by the Crewe Foundation’s incredibly generous matching gift challenge, we expect to surge past the finish line this spring, and, with approval from the Board of Trustees, we expect to soon break ground on an extraordinary new home for music and the arts at USM.”

A large number of students attending SMCC will transfer to USM, and will benefit from the new arts center. The center will include spaces for the arts, from music, dance, and theater to visual arts. It will also include learning labs that will focus on the technical aspects of theater, such as lighting, sound, and production management. SMCC students planning to transfer to USM will have plenty of art programs to choose from because of the new arts center.