Fries Arts Building
The Fries Arts Building advances Wesleyan’s commitment to interdisciplinary arts practice. Opened in 2025, the facility brings together performance, design, movement, and visual research under one roof—supporting collaboration across theater, dance, and studio art. Its adaptable spaces are designed for experimentation, student and faculty work, and visiting artist residencies.
Venue Information
The Fries Arts Building is an integrative arts lab that unites several creative disciplines in one modern, flexible facility. The building contains:
- Lin-Manuel Miranda Theater
- Movement Studio
- Design Studio
- Drawing Studio
- Faculty and Guest Artist Offices
- Flexible rehearsal and creation spaces
Directions and Parking
Address:
Fries Arts Building
56 Hamlin Street
Middletown, CT 06459
Design
The Fries Arts Building was designed by Bruner/Cott Architects, a firm known for sustainable academic and arts facilities. Opened in 2025, the building emphasizes natural light, visibility across spaces, and flexible configurations that can shift between rehearsal, performance, and studio modes. Its architecture showcases creative work in motion and invites the campus and community into the artistic process.
Wesleyan University has named its black box theater in the new Fries Arts Building the Lin-Manuel Miranda Theater, in honor of Lin-Manuel Miranda ’02, Hon. ’15, the acclaimed composer, playwright, and alumnus who first developed In the Heights as a student on campus.
Fries Arts Building
The Wesleyan and Middletown communities celebrated the Fries Arts Building’s October 4, 2025 opening—an interdisciplinary space built for connection, creative exchange, and experimentation.