FAMU names new amphitheater in honor of Will Packer • EBONY

Florida A&M University (FAMU) has named its new amphitheater in honor of one of its most distinguished alumni, director / producer Will Packer, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Additionally, FAMU announced that it has received a donation of $ 1.5 million from the Knight Foundation to add multimedia features to the amphitheater, making Coming Home all the more special.

The new space on campus, which will house the Will Packer Performing Arts Amphitheater, will now be known as the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Plaza.

Packer, who graduated from FAMU in 1996 with a degree in Electrical Engineering, was proud of the new Will Packer Performing Arts Amphitheater.

“It is a huge honor,” he said. “It’s hard to overstate how important this is to me personally. “

“I choose to view this not only as an honor for myself as an individual, but as what I stand for – an HBCU graduate who entered FAMU without having any Hollywood connections or industry knowledge, who has was able to go find my voice, find my vision, find my passion and shape my dream and I managed to do it, “he added.” For me that is the biggest statement. “

In 2019, Packer learned that his alma mater was planning to dedicate the new amphitheater in his honor. After hearing the news, the first person he decided to call was his mother.

“I said, ‘Mom, get ready,’ he recalls. “I need you for the start of the school year. They dedicate an amphitheater to me. They put my name on a building at FAMU. What is she saying ?!'”

“She just couldn’t believe that such a great honor was bestowed on her son,” Packer said.

Although the dedication was postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s homecoming, titled “The Epic Return,” was the culmination of this immense honor.

Packer was joined by his family, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers, classmates, alumni, supporters and fans.

Not only did he get an amphitheater named in his honor, but Packer was able to join his frequent collaborators Kevin Hart, Molly Qerim Rose and Stephen A. Smith for a live recording of ESPN. First take on the FAMU campus.

During his illustrious career, Packer produced or produced several films including Girl trip, The photo, Small, What men want, Night school, Break, No good deed, Takers, Obsessed, and Hit the court. On television, his credits include Ambitions, bigger, to be Mary Jane, and Uncle Buck. He is the CEO of Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media.

As EBONY previously reported, Packer has been selected to produce the 94th Academy Awards.

In his speech, he quoted the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley, which his late father, Will Packer Sr., reminded him of when he was in high school.

“When you come to a university like FAMU, you can’t control who will be around you,” he said. “Who is around you shapes who you are. “