Anonymous match pushes Wausau’s Grand Theater closer to $17.5M centenary restoration goal

The Performing Arts Foundation, owner-operator of the century-old Grand Theater in Wausau, Wisconsin, has announced a $1 million matching challenge from an anonymous donor to support the performing arts venue’s Second Century Campaign. The award will apply to new donations through December 31, effectively doubling the impact of gifts made toward the campaign’s $17.5 million restoration goal. To date, $15.5 million has been raised–including a $1.1 million contribution from the State of Wisconsin. The funding will help the venue–opened in 1927 as a vaudeville and silent film palace–complete infrastructure upgrades including modernization and accessibility improvements alongside restoration of the historic interior ahead of its November 2026 reopening.