Eva Sopher who had run many artistic endeavours in Porto Alegre for the organisation PROARTE was chosen by the government to lead the project.

In 1991 there was a challenge to her leadership but admirers including the Brazilian director and actor Bete Coelho [pt] gathered to hold hands around the theatre to show their support.

[2] Further extensions to the theatre's facilities had been started by Soper with a budget of R$20m but the estimated costs rose to R$50m.

Although still not complete in 2018 the project had delivered a car park, rooms for administration, a new restaurant and a music salon.

[3] José Ivo Sartori who was Governor of Rio Grande do Sul declared three days of mourning.