The Developing Artists Foundation and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts (DA) have announced the school’s debut of its newest stage: a 5,000-square-foot outdoor amphitheater, situated in the heart of the campus for the award-winning arts high school.
The completion of the Betsy Lovett Amphitheatre fulfills a vision 13 years in the making. In 2012, the foundation for a future amphitheater was poured as part of a campus construction project.
Former principal Jackie Cornelius began working with architect Tom Rensing, patron Betsy Lovett and the DA Foundation to raise funds, with Lovett pledging the first seed money for the project. Despite the challenges of skyrocketing construction costs, the COVID-19 pandemic and securing private financial support, the DA Foundation never wavered in its commitment to the project.
The open-air amphitheater expands opportunities for students to learn, rehearse, perform and connect. The centrally located venue features stadium-style seating for up to 300 people, a covered roof, lights and flexible features to hang additional stage lighting and speakers.
Students from across DA’s 10 arts programs — from music, dance, theatre, visual and cinematic arts to creative writing — will benefit from the opportunity to utilize the amphitheater for productions and events.
“This amphitheater marks the realization of a vision, which will change how the community and students experience the arts,” said Principal Timothy Feagins. “Year after year, DA students demonstrate that they have the talent and discipline to shine on the stage. Bringing this amphitheater to the campus provides yet another venue for these young performers to develop their skills and share them with the world — rain or shine. Performing in the open air presents unique challenges and learning opportunities that are completely different from the controlled environment of a traditional stage or black box theater. I’m elated to see how this space inspires and enriches our students’ creativity. A special thanks goes to the DA Foundation for making this a reality.”
Philanthropic funding for the $1.18 million project was provided entirely through community contributions to the Developing Artists Foundation, with support from the late Betsy Lovett, Preston Haskell and Ann Hicks. Donations from patrons and community supporters across Northeast Florida also played a role in the project’s successful completion.
Rensing, owner of KBJ Architects, designed the structure to complement the visual style of other projects he worked on over the past 20 years for the school, including the campus rotunda, atrium, jazz building and vocal performance building. The amphitheater’s roof features sweeping lines that embrace the structure, creating a completely one-of-a-kind space for student rehearsals and productions. Scherer Construction oversaw construction. Haskell provided engineering support. Landscaping was provided by Greenscape of Jacksonville, Mulch Masters, volunteers from the senior class of 2026 and Aspire Church.
“Across cultures throughout history, amphitheaters have brought communities together. We’re proud to honor that artistic tradition through the completion of this project,” said Erin Vance Skinner, president of the DA Foundation. “Adding this incredible venue to DA’s campus has been a long-term dream for the Developing Artists Foundation. We’re grateful to the many donors, community partners and collaborators who brought this vision to life.”
The unveiling of the amphitheater further solidifies DA as a school where arts and academics meet in excellence. The school earned an “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education for the last three decades. Additionally, DA was recognized in October at the Kennedy Center as a National Exemplary Arts High School, and was listed as one of the top 50 best high schools in the state of Florida by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings consider several factors, including college readiness and graduation rates; DA’s senior class has achieved a 100% graduation rate for four years in a row. More than $23.5 million in scholarships were offered to graduates of the class of 2025.
To learn more about the DA Foundation, go to developingartistsfoundation.org. If interested in opportunities to support future projects and programs at DA through the Developing Artists Foundation, contact Jackie Cornelius at corneliusjackie2@gmail.com.
