Lovett Auditorium

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Lovett Auditorium is a performance venue on the Murray State University campus with a capacity of approximately 2,200. On the North side of the campus' quad, it is one of the original buildings on the school's campus. (The school's first auditorium, however, was in what is now the Wrather Museum of Western Kentucky.) Several on- and off-campus organizations currently use the space and several events have been held inside, including graduations, orientations, concerts, and even basketball games. The auditorium is administered and managed by Murray State's College of Humanities and Fine Arts and is the main performance venue for several of the Department of Music's ensembles.[1]

Namesake

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Upon the completion of its construction in 1928,[2] Lovett Auditorium was called the "College Auditorium".[3] The building was renamed in 1973 in honor of Mrs. Laurine Wells Lovett,[4] daughter of founder and second President of the Murray State Normal School, Rainey T. Wells.[5] Mrs. Lovett was a member of the Murray State Board of Regents from 1924 to 1928[3] and was influential in the design of the auditorium.

History

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Construction and early uses

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On April 1, 1926, at a meeting of the Murray State Board of Regents, sitting president John W. Carr tendered his resignation. In this address, Carr made known his wish for the college to construct a "greater auditorium... one which will enable us to bring not only to the students, but to the people of Western Kentucky the best things in music, oratory, art, and religion".[6] Also in 1926, the Kentucky State Legislature passed a bill directing $400,000 to be used to improve Murray State. These improvements, under the presidency of Rainey T. Wells, would eventually include the construction of the auditorium, training school, and central heating plant at an original estimated cost of $396,500.[7][6] The Key Langston Construction Company constructed the auditorium at a cost of $129,225.29. After the installation of plumbing and electrical infrastructure, the final cost of the building was $145,462.34.[3] Upon the completion of the building in 1928, it was the largest college auditorium in Kentucky.[3] Anecdotally, the auditorium was seen as a symbol of Kentucky's commitment to higher education, as noted by a visit to the college by Georgia congressman W. D. Upshaw. Upshaw is quoted in the school's newspaper:

"When I get back to Atlanta, I am going to shame the people of the city in their refusal to build an adequate auditorium for Georgia Tech, and I shall point to Murray State Teachers College's new auditorium to show what Kentucky is doing for her schools."[8]

There was no dedication or grand opening ceremony for the auditorium, and Murray State immediately began using it in January 1928[6] for several events and activities such as graduation ceremonies and basketball games, which were held there for several years until the construction of the Health Building in 1937.[3]

Basketball was a key factor in the design of the building, as the stage was planned to be 90 feet long and 50 feet wide for the basketball teams to practice and host games.[3][9] Both the men and women's basketball teams played on the auditorium stage from 1928 to 1937. The auditorium was also used to host play-by-play "phonecasts" of Murray State away games, particularly in championship games.[10]

Four standard classrooms and several offices on the second floor behind the audience balcony were included for the school's music department. The offices, which are now unused, provided workspaces for the department faculty and spaces to hold private music lessons.[6][3] In 1938, the on-campus, student-run organization Campus Lights produced its first show.[3] Campus Lights has produced musicals annually in the auditorium ever since, and is now in its 89th edition.

Renovations

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In 1945, Murray State constructed the first fine arts building, which was joined with Lovett Auditorium to give students and faculty of the music department easy access to the facility.[6]

At some time in the mid-1960s, the building was updated with a sprinkler system and air conditioning. The audience seats were also reupholstered and repainted.[3]

In the early 2010s, Lovett Auditorium underwent roof replacement, repainting, electrical updates, and the addition of an accessible men and women's restroom at a cost of $215,000.[11] The original restrooms are only accessible by stairs.

A major renovation began in 2020 and was completed in 2022 with an original expected cost of $4.52 million. This included all-new seating on the first floor, HVAC upgrades, new windows, and new stage curtains.[12][13] Although all of the seating on the first floor was replaced, the balcony's seating remains original as it is much less worn and rarely used.

Present day

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Up to today, several music ensembles rehearse and perform in the auditorium, with recording and sound equipment at the top of the audience balcony installed after construction. The university still uses the auditorium annually to host prospective and incoming students for orientations before the start of each Fall semester.

A plaque hangs in the lobby of the auditorium honoring "Those of Murray State Who Have Made the Supreme Sacrifice, World War II". It lists, in chronological order of their deaths, the names of former Murray State students who were killed in action during the Second World War.[3][6]

Notable performers and speakers

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References

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  1. ^ "Lovett Auditorium". Murray State. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  2. ^ Lawrence, Sandra Lee (1970). A chronicle of significant events in the growth and development of Murray State University as recorded through its publications. Murray, KY: Murray State University. p. 32.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Woods, Ralph H. (1973). Fifty Years of Progress: A History of Murray State University 1922-1972. Murray, KY: Murray State University. pp. 16, 75, 134–135, 461.
  4. ^ "Screening committee appointed". Murray State News. 2 February 1973. p. 2. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  5. ^ Mofield, William Ray (1991). "Rainey Thornton Wells: His Role in the Establishment of Murray State University". Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal Archive. 19 (1): 6. Retrieved 22 November 2025 – via Murray State Digital Commons.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Carr, John Wesley (1998). Recollections of Murray State College: an adventure in education in old Kentucky, 1919-1952. Murray, KY: Murray State University. pp. 101–102, 113, 264, 267.
  7. ^ Andrus, Martha (2021-06-18). "The history of the University School/Murray Training School". Murray Ledger and Times. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Upshaw Praises M. T. C. - Georgia Congressman Visitor on Campus". The College News. 24 June 1927. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Buildings to be finished soon". The College News. 24 June 1927. p. 1. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  10. ^ "The Shield 1936". Murray State Digital Commons. p. 71. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  11. ^ Anderson, Meghann (14 March 2012). "Oatman: interior Lovett upgrade underway". The Murray State News. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  12. ^ Berry, Dionte (25 August 2022). "Campus construction, renovations set to update academic buildings, housing". The Murray State News. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  13. ^ Teague, Hawkins (7 October 2021). "Second phase of Lovett Auditorium renovations should start this month". Murray Ledger & Times. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  14. ^ Teague, Hawkins (15 September 2009). "Earle to perform at MSU's Lovett Wednesday night". Murray Ledger & Times. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  15. ^ Teague, Hawkins (23 November 2009). "OCMS plays packed Lovett". Murray Ledger & Times. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  16. ^ Teague, Hawkins (15 August 2011). "Jason Isbell set to play Lovett Sat. night". Murray Ledger & Times. Retrieved 21 November 2025.