By News and Internal Communications

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – AUG. 24, 2023 – The University of Texas System Board of Regents (BOR) on Thursday authorized UTRGV to purchase the Majestic Theatre and an adjacent building in downtown Brownsville.

In support of UTRGV’s Performing Arts programs in the College of Fine Arts, UTRGV will renovate the buildings — currently owned by The Roy F. and Joann Cole Mitte Foundation — to serve as the university’s new Performing Arts Center in Brownsville. The center will provide much-needed performance, rehearsal and instructional space for the College of Fine Arts as it works to expand offerings in music, dance and theater. 

UTRGV President Guy Bailey said the potential undertaking is a win-win opportunity for the university and the city of Brownsville. 

“We are excited about the purchase of these buildings because it will provide our performing arts students in Brownsville with space to call their own,” Bailey said. “At the same time, we are well aware of the city’s commitment to revitalizing downtown, and we are confident that this project will help enhance those efforts.”

In addition, UTRGV remains committed to also securing a new home for the College of Fine Art’s School of Art and Design in Brownsville due to the conditions of its leased space at Rusteberg Hall.

In the short-term, UTRGV:

• has purchased new equipment and furniture for the building,
• and continues to seek corrective action from the owners on a list of maintenance issues compiled by students, faculty and administration. 

As for a long-term solution, UTRGV had also explored moving the School of Art and Design into a downtown building, however, UTRGV is now working with UT System to explore the construction of a new building on the Brownsville Campus. 

Detailed timelines regarding these College of Fine Arts construction projects will be released later this fall as they become available.

“We are committed to ensuring our students in the College of Fine Arts have the proper resources and space to be successful,” College of Fine Arts Dean Jeff Ward said. “This is definitely a step in the right direction, and we look forward to announcing more good news in the future.”

MORE ABOUT THE MAJESTIC THEATRE

The Historical Marker Database website (HMdb.org) says the Majestic was built in 1948 and was part of Karl St. John Hoblitzelle’s Interstate theater chain. Interstate was an influential vaudeville and later movie theater company in the South, opening Majestic Theaters in Dallas and San Antonio before coming to Brownsville. The building has stylistic influences of the modern architectural movement, and the interior features Art Deco murals, stairway and terrazzo floors. Portions of the original facade, including the theater marquee, still remain. 

The new center will provide much-needed performance, rehearsal and instructional space for the College of Fine Arts as it works to expand offerings in music, dance and theater. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)