WILMINGTON — Ursuline Academy played the long game with its performing arts center, and the patience has paid off. The Wilmington school will soon begin work to bring it into a new era while providing a better experience for their students and the local community.
The building will be named the McConnell Center for Performing Arts in honor of Paul and Linda McConnell, the businesspeople and philanthropists who have long supported Ursuline and other Catholic schools. The McConnells were guests of honor on Sept. 22 at the Greenville Country Club, where Ursuline officials unveiled renderings of what the theater will look like while celebrating the “Blaze Brighter” strategic plan. They contributed $2.5 million to the campaign for the theater project.
Linda McConnell said the couple has longtime ties to Ursuline; their son attended for the primary grades. They began their support with a donation designated for scholarships, particularly for underprivileged children.
“Ursuline is very good about supporting those kids,” she said.
Ursuline president Trisha Medeiros said the school purchased the building on Van Buren Street next to the Lower School about 25 years ago and used it for several years until the recession in 2008. They maintained possession, and now that the school’s enrollment is higher, officials decided it was time to restore it. She said the building is unique.
“The architecture is just amazing. There’s nothing like it in the area,” she said. “We need the space, and the girls deserve it. It’s magnificent.”
The building was formerly the First Church of Christ Scientist. The goal is to preserve as much as possible, Medeiros said. It will basically have everything new, although they would like to keep the pews if possible. The basement of the building has room for technical work, building sets, dressing rooms and a kitchenette. It will eliminate the need for Ursuline to hold these events in the school auditorium.
Medeiros said the plan is to break ground in early 2027 and to open in spring 2028. Ursuline is still raising money for the project. About 80 percent of the $10 million total has been secured.
McConnell Development Inc. is based in Wilmington and included an innovation center before those were common in schools.
“He started talking to one of the teachers at Ursuline, and he said, ‘Why don’t you bring your girls over to the space and take a look at it, get them interested in it?’” Linda McConnell recalled. “And she did, and they started a program for high school girls to go back and forth to Innovation. We sponsored that program for them. It really went far.”
They heard about the theater, and “we got juiced up about it,” Linda McConnell said. Several factors played a role in their decision. The couple is happy with Ursuline’s leadership and the direction of the school, and Ursuline has always been good stewards with their donations. They also see this as a way to bring people into the city for the arts.
“It’s just a combination of things,” Paul McConnell said. “And we’re really honored. We didn’t go in expecting the building to be named after us. At this point in our life, we’re older now, it’s a legacy for our family.”
Ursuline alumna Aubrey Plaza, a member of the Class of 2002 and the honorary campaign chair for the McConnell Center, said the facility will be a boon not only for Ursuline, but the city of Wilmington as well.
“The stage is where dreams take flight, and every great performance begins with a place to create,” the actress, producer and comedian said in a statement. “Wilmington and Ursuline Academy gave me the roots to grow, and this new Center for Performing Arts will provide the foundation for future generations to do the same.”
The McConnells also have supported Ursuline initiatives such as the McConnell Young Scholars Program, the 1893 I.D.E.A. Studio and the Center for Success.
Ursuline director of development Patrick Davey said the school is very appreciative of the McConnell’s support over the years.
“Over the course of the last five years at Ursuline Academy, they’ve been extremely generous,” he said. “They’ve donated more than $4.5 million to various programs, including the endowment, scholarships, and they’ve taken the lead on this building. We’re really grateful to them for their leadership and generosity.”
Something that will be coming with the renovation will be a partnership with The Brandywiners, a community theater group. Ursuline president Trisha Medeiros said the company will be artists in residence at the McConnell Centre for Performing Arts.
“I really don’t know of another school and professional organization like that. We’re going to do some joint programming. The Brandywiners are going to host some summer camps there, so there will be a lot of educational programs,” she said.
Jeff Santoro, the president of The Brandywiners and a member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, is excited about the possibilities.
“It’s going to give (Ursuline students) a whole new world of opportunity” in areas such as technical roles, performing and public speaking, he said.
“The carpet is out, and we’re all going to walk on it now. We’ll continue to build programming around the students.”
The Brandywiners also are thrilled because “we’ve been homeless for almost 100 years, so this is a good thing for us,” Santoro said.
