Theater

Boston University and Huntington Theater End Partnership

 

Boston University and the Huntington Theater Company announced on Wednesday that they are ending their 33-year partnership, attributing the separation to “different goals.”

Boston University, which owns the three buildings that have served as the theater company’s main stage and offices, and has also been providing annual financial assistance to the Huntington, plans immediately to put the buildings, located in Boston’s Symphony neighborhood, up for sale.

The Huntington, which just two years ago won a special Tony Award recognizing excellence in regional theater, will be allowed to continue to work in the theater building through June 30, 2017; by that time, the Huntington will have to either buy the building, negotiate an agreement with a new owner, or move out.

The organizations said that Boston University wants to relocate its theater education facilities to its main campus along the Charles River, and the Huntington wants a modernized main stage theater facility. (The Huntington also presents theater at the smaller Calderwood Pavilion in Boston’s South End.)

“We reached the conclusion that we are both far more likely to achieve our different goals in the future by proceeding individually rather than together,” the two organizations said in a joint statement. “This has been a difficult decision to make, but we both believe it is the right one.”

In an email to their supporters, Huntington officials said “our strong preference is to remain in and improve our longstanding Huntington Avenue venue” and that it was willing to raise money to help finance an upgrade of the theater. “The Board of Trustees of the Huntington stands ready to be a partner in any purchase or development of these properties,” said the email, written by Michael Maso, the theater’s managing director, and Peter DuBois, the artistic director.

Artbeat