PHOENIX, AZ — Chanen Construction marked a big milestone on the $32 million expansion project at the historic Phoenix Theatre Company. Subcontractor, Rouser Concrete, completed the final concrete pour for the structural walls for the new Dr. Stacie J. and Richard J. Stephenson Theatre, under construction in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Crews battled the physical and structural challenges of building in extreme summer heat, working early morning hours to avoid recorded temperatures up to 130 degrees in the basement area.

To recognize workers for their dedication, Chanen Construction, a Dick Anderson Construction Company, hosted a celebratory lunch and paid special recognition to the team from Rouser Concrete. With the concrete walls complete, the project enters a new phase of building. Steel workers, mechanical workers, electricians, and masonry workers will join the construction team with the goal of completing work by summer 2025.

When completed, Arizona’s oldest producing theater will have a venue with ADA accessible seating and a larger capacity to fit 500, similar to a Broadway-sized theatre. It will also have a full fly loft, below-stage traps, orchestra pit, and lighting effects for pre-Broadway show development. Many Broadway hits, such as Hamilton, Jersey Boys, and Les Misérables got their start in a regional theatre like The Phoenix Theatre. The project is being funded by a combination of fundraising, donations, corporate partnerships, and grants.