> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Curtain set to rise soon on theater construction
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/curtain-set-to-rise-soon-on-theater-construction/
- Published: 2004-11-18T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T05:35:43.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Entertainment, Mid-City, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

MID-CITY — Construction on a new $31-million, 500-seat theater in Santa Monica will officially begin in January, officials announced this week.

A ground-breaking ceremony for Santa Monica College’s Madison Project, a performing arts complex located at 10th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard, will be held on Jan. 19\. The new theater is expected to be completely built in 22 months.

Dr. Piedad F. Robertson, president of SMC and perhaps Madison’s strongest supporter, will step down from her post at the end of January (see related story). Still, Robertson said she will remain involved in the project, which also is backed by actor Dustin Hoffman.

“The best thing is that it becomes a pet project of the college, and since I am going to be living in the community, I’ll have the opportunity to watch it grow up and I’ll have the opportunity to come and watch shows there,” Robertson said Wednesday, just moments after announcing she would be leaving SMC to head up a nonprofit education think-tank.

SMC’s board of trustees approved a $30.8 million construction bid for the theater this

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 18, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/111804.pdf?ref=smdp.com)