Earlier this month I had the opportunity to visit a place that has lived in my imagination and heart for years: the Manchester Bidwell Corporation in Pittsburgh. It’s a place where potential is nurtured and beauty is everywhere, on purpose.
It is home to MCG Jazz and the bench that inspired my entire vision for the interior of the Wallace Theater.
In the book “Make the Impossible Possible”, Bill Strickland shares how he overcame all odds, never giving up on his desires for something great, and built an organization that would change lives of the people in his home community.
He built the center as a space filled with beauty, dignity, and hope. He tells the story of a single bench in the lobby designed by a world renowned furniture maker. It is a piece of art for the single mother, worn down by the weight of her world on her shoulders. She can walk in, sit down, rest, and be empowered to know she deserves better and that the center will train her with skills she needs.
He wanted students in the classes to turn every corner and be confronted by something beautiful and be inspired creatively to know they could fulfill their dreams.
Sitting on that bench this week, I envisioned the future and everything I’ve dreamed the Wallace Theater could be. I was reminded the building is just the beginning. The real impact of these spaces is in the opportunities they unlock, the confidence they instill, and the futures they shape.
I read about the addition of MCG Jazz to the organization. In what many once thought to be an unlikely venue, they’ve hosted some of the most iconic names in Jazz and turned it into a top destination for artists. Marty Ashby created a place musicians want to return to because it’s meaningful. Artists know that when they play there, they’re part of something special.
That’s what I want for the Wallace. A venue worth the trip. Worth traveling to. A place where the experience is so genuine, so inspiring, so beautifully done, that artists can’t wait to return and audiences can’t wait to see what’s next.
We’re so close to closing the chapter on construction and that honestly makes me sad. I’ve been working towards this for 10 years, but it’s time to get ready for the next chapter. One that’s going to be even more exciting! One filled with unforgettable performances and opportunities that will ripple out for generations!
Thank you to everyone who has been part of the Wallace. Let’s keep building something extraordinary together.
-Alycyn Keeling