Ravinia Announces Record $38M Gift For Martin Theatre Renovation

Published on September 23, 2026

Patch (09/16/26) Barnes, Rachel The Ravinia Festival in Illinois has announced a $38 million gift from The Negaunee Foundation to renovate the historic Martin Theatre. The gift is the largest in the festival’s history and will fund upgrades to the venue. The announcement is part of Ravinia's broader stage renovation plan ahead of its 125th anniversary in 2029. Ravinia Festival President and CEO Jeffrey P. Haydon expects the Martin Theatre project will be completed by July 2028. It will include a new mobile acoustic shell, upgraded dressing rooms and technical spaces, new seating with greater row depth, new box seats, a cross-aisle, and modernized lighting and rigging systems. Additionally, the project will include upgraded restrooms; exterior repairs; and improvements to mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Read the full story from  Patch . 

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