Built in 2008, this building was the result of many people dreaming and working for many years.
The lead donor was John M. Law who combined his love of WVWC, his love of the theater and the arts, and love for his late wife to provide funds for this building. His is rumored to have said that although he couldn’t take his money with him he could designate where it could go to make an impact on the future.
An active member of the Play Shop and Alpha Psi Omega during his days at Wesleyan, John was the son of Clyde O. Law. Clyde (1905 graduate of the Seminary and 1909 from the college) became a trustee of the college in 1919, when John was a year old. Clyde went on to be president of the board from 1945-56; and he was the first president and organizer of the Emeritus Club.
A large crowd gathered on April 2, 2009, for the ribbon cutting for the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts, which opened that night to a gala performance of the musical Gypsy.
Culpepper Auditorium, located in this building, is named for Marvin (1951; Hon. 2006) and Elaine Karnes (1954; Hon. 2006) Culpepper. Marvin is the son of Rev. Ross (1930; Hon. 1950) and Dr. Olive O’Dell (1933; Hon. 1972) Culpepper.
The Greek Room, which is used for dinners, small meetings, receptions, etc. was funded with assistance of the Greek Organizations.
(2007) New Performing Arts Center Construction Begins [Sundial 2007 Spring/Summer, p.27] West Virginia Wesleyan College will begin construction on the new Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts next month. The College’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to move forward with the project after securing $5.9 million for the project. Bastian and Harris Architects from Charleston and High Point Construction from Buckhannon are coordinating the construction of the facility. The new performance center will house a proscenium arch theatre with full stage, state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, a scene building shop, dressing rooms, costume shop and public reception areas. Wesleyan is continuing to secure funding to complete the financing of the project. Nearly 600 individuals and organizations have made donations or pledges. The College plans to secure the remaining $2 million during the 21-month construction period. “We are thrilled to make this long-time dream a reality for Wesleyan and the Buckhannon community,” said Dr. Pamela Balch, president of the college. “We have a rich tradition in performing arts and this facility will provide the impetus for major growth in these academic areas.” Wesleyan currently offers a bachelor of arts in arts administration, musical theatre, and theatre arts and a bachelor of fine arts in performance studies: acting/directing emphasis. The College also offers minors in dance, musical theatre, and theatre arts.
(2007) In the 1983 Sundial, Wesleyan Board of Trustees determined that a new performing arts center was one of the institution’s most pressing facility priorities. This priority was affirmed and reaffirmed by College and Board leaders and became a focal point of Wesleyan’s Enduring Lifes…Transforming Values capital campaigh. After John Law ’40 provided a major gift in honor of his late wife, Virginia Thomas Law, momentum began to build on making this long-time dream a reality. When President Balch arriced in July of 2006, she quickly made the performing arts center a major priority. Boar of Trustee members Tom Dunn ’64 and Bill Minsker volunteered to work with Charleston architects Bastian and Harris and local contractor High Point Construction to achieve academic program goals within a $7 million framework. Group efforts led to a unanimous vote by the Board in May to move forward with the project and construction began that same month. The Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts construction costs total $7.2 million, with $1.62 million remaining to complete the funding for the project. the center will support the following activities: instruction for acting, directing, technical set construction and movement, theatre productions, Wesleyan’s Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band performances, Arts Alive! Series of cultural programming, community theatre productions, concerts and recitals by community groups, and film festivals. The facility will replace Atkinson Auditorium, a hall designed in the early 1900’s for lectures and chapel services. “Wesleyan has a rich tradition in performing arts,” said Bresident Balch. “This new facility will become the finest performing arts facility in north central West Virginia.” Construction is in high-gear and during the spring semester, the new building across the street from the Lynch-Raine Administration Building will begin to rise. In 2009, the dream of many people will be fulfilled. [Excerpt from the article Realizing a Dream…Building on Strength Sundial Fall/Winter 2007, p.2]
(2009) Grand Opening on April 2, 2009