The interior of McKenna Theatre (originally the Main Auditorium).
J. Fenton McKenna was known nationally as a leader in the professional and educational theater and allied arts. McKenna earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and law, and a doctorate in law from Santa Clara University before he did graduate work in drama and speech at Stanford and Northwestern universities. He was hired by J. Paul Leonard to establish and develop a theatre department in 1946. McKenna served as chair of Speech and Drama for sixteen years. In a surprise ceremony the 750-seat Main Auditorium in the Creative Arts Building was named in the J. Fenton McKenna Theatre in his honor on Sunday, April 23, 1972.
