Penn Live Arts (PLA) at the University of Pennsylvania announced a $1 million gift from Tricia and Jason Pantzer, C’93, PAR’25, PAR’26, PAR’29, to name the Tricia and Jason Pantzer Box Office at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, a major cultural destination that serves an annual audience of over 80,000 people, connecting Penn and Philadelphia with a wide range of world-renowned and emerging artists.
New Leadership Gift Names the Tricia and Jason Pantzer Family Box Office at Penn Live Arts
$1 million from Tricia and Jason Pantzer advances a University-wide investment in performing arts infrastructure at Penn
Published: April 16, 2026
The Pantzer family’s gift stands among the early leadership gifts to Penn Live Arts’ capital campaign and reflects their strong belief in the University’s vision to renovate and expand the facilities that support performance and cultural life at Penn.
“This is an exciting moment,” says Christopher A. Gruits, Executive and Artistic Director of Penn Live Arts. “Jason and Tricia immediately embraced our vision, and their dedicated leadership helped inspire broader support. The box office is where every audience member’s journey begins. Naming this space in their honor is a fitting tribute to their belief in access and artistic excellence.”
Under Gruits’s leadership, Penn Live Arts has embarked on a significant transformation to reimagine its facilities, strengthen academic partnerships, and expand engagement across campus and the city. The capital campaign builds on that momentum, positioning Penn Live Arts as a vibrant crossroads for students, faculty, visiting artists, and the entire Philadelphia community.
“Performance and creative expression are central to the University’s mission,” adds Timothy Rommen, Vice Provost for the Arts at the University of Pennsylvania. “Jason and Tricia’s generosity strengthens our ability to ensure that the arts continue to thrive as a vital part of our campus and our region.”
We’ve been incredibly energized by the progress at Penn Live Arts. The renovation and expansion plans reflect Penn’s serious commitment to the performing arts, and we wanted to support this effort early to help fuel that momentum. The arts bring people together, and we’re proud to support that shared experience.”Jason Pantzer
Jason and Tricia Pantzer are longstanding supporters of cultural initiatives at Penn and beyond. Jason Pantzer is Co-CEO of Pantzer and oversees the firm’s investment, asset management, and fundraising efforts. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania in 1993 and currently serves as a member of the Board of Advisors of Penn Live Arts and the Penn Parents Council, and is a former member of The Penn Fund Executive Board. Tricia Pantzer serves on the Board of Advisors of the Institute of Contemporary Art and on the Penn Parents Council. Together with their three daughters, Amanda, C’25, Lauren, C’26, and Caroline, C’29, they have fostered a deep and enduring family connection to Penn.
To learn more about Penn Live Arts and ways to give, visit pennlivearts.org/give.
Header photo by Mark Garvin.
