Salve and the International Tennis Hall of Fame update the historic Casino Theatre
Community playhouse revitalized with new lighting, sound and technology.
As the daffodils opened to welcome the spring of 2026, a refreshed and updated Casino Theatre opened its doors to the Newport community. Through its long-standing partnership with the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Salve Regina University made significant updates that revitalize the historic playhouse for the community to enjoy. The updates were made possible by $650,000 in gifts from the Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust and the van Beuren Charitable Foundation and $60,000 from Salve.
Built as a ballroom on the Newport Casino campus in 1881, the Casino Theatre now houses Salve's music, theatre and dance performances as well as providing rental space for other arts and cultural performances and events. During the summer, it serves as a designated press space for key events at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The recent updates to lighting, sound and technology were showcased to community partners at an event that featured a performance choreographed by Salve dance major Reene Nemchek '27 titled "La vida es una, disfrútala!" (You only live once, so enjoy it!).
"To a lot of dance and theatre arts majors, Casino is just 'home,'" Nemchek said. "It's different from theaters at other universities. It's more intimate. There are different ways performers can go in and out of the wings, and you can be creative when designing a performance to use the theater as part of your vision. Casino is uniquely Salve."
The recent renovations include updates to sound, lighting and as well as modernizing safety features.
- State-of-the-art surround sound speakers
- A brand-new mixing board
- New LED stage lighting
- 16 wireless microphones
- A new audio/visual infrastructure that increases flexibility and ease of use
- Improved safety features on stairs and stages
"We are thrilled to have the new sound system and lights," Nemchek noted. "It's a lot easier to do the kind of deep listening to music that we need to do for dance. And in our lighting class we can work with different kinds of effects now, so we're more current in our knowledge."
To ensure the theater space is optimized for community use, a portion of the gifts from the Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust and van Beuren Charitable Foundation also funds a dedicated theater manager. In October 2025, Ashleigh DeAmicis '23, Salve theatre arts alumna and former Casino Theatre box office manager, stepped into the role.
Additionally, the International Tennis Hall of Fame has purchased a new film screen for the theater, which will be installed in spring 2026. More updates are planned, with a focus on green room and orchestra pit capabilities and extended lighting improvements.
Salve President Kelli J. Armstrong, said, "As stewards of a historical campus, we are incredibly grateful for community partners who help us preserve historic gems like the Casino Theatre while also embracing innovation. These updates will have a profound impact on all who use and visit the theater."
