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Brookhaven Little Theatre’s
SAVE THE HAVEN CAMPAIGN
Forty years ago, a small group of individuals organized an acting theater in Brookhaven, Mississippi, called Brookhaven Little Theatre. For almost 20 years they performed annual plays on stages all over Southwest Mississippi until they could find a "home" for the arts.
In the mid 1980s, the group purchased the old, historic-then abandoned movie theater located downtown on Cherokee Street. The group's vision and work to provide quality theater events to residents from all areas surrounding Brookhaven remains as strong as it once was ---- and with new ideas and a new sense of growth in the past 3 years.
Now, attention must be turned to the theater building itself since it has aging walls, overly sensitive plumbing and electrical and even water damages/moisture issues.
The Save the Haven campaign began in 2004 with a committee of concerned citizens hoping to completely renovate the building so that it can develop into its full potential -- from a community theater to a full-fledged Performing Arts Center. Estimates are close to a $1 million and volunteers are frantically seeking funding and writing grants to "help themselves" as they as others to help as well.
The Brookhaven Little Theatre needs your help to continue the momentum of restoring the Haven Theater. Since our Grease production of 2006, we have achieved the following: - Replaced the theater’s failing air conditioner units
- Became a registered Mississippi Landmark and received a landmark preservation grant of 80% matching our 20% to completely replace the theater’s 30 year old roof. We now enjoy a new layer of insulation and a roof guaranteed to last 25 years by the manufacturer. The project cost a total of $82,492, of which we paid only 20%, or $16,498.56.
- Submitted a grant application to the Mississippi Arts Commission to assist us with restoring the theater’s façade and were awarded a 60% match to cover $60,000 of the estimated $100,000 project. Thanks to several significant local donations and profits from recent productions, we have the monies on hand to match the grant. The project was advertised for bid recently by the architect selected to assist us with this and future phases of renovation. We hope to award the contract this summer to begin the restoration of the theater’s aging façade.
To complete the façade renovation, it was necessary for us to suspend all performances and events scheduled after our July summer children’s camp through the end of October.
The façade renovation project does not include the restoration of the theater’s neon sign and marquee. We sought bids and have selected a vendor to complete the project totaling $62,673. There are no grant monies to assist with this needed project, and we must turn to our community if this project is to be completed. We have set a goal of raising $50,000 for the sign and need to complete the fundraising within one month in order to install during the completion of the façade work. If successful, we plan to “switch on the haven” after dark at our 2008 membership block party.
As you know, the Haven Theater serves all in our community as a venue to enjoy the performing arts and many other meetings and events. All board members and staff are voluntary, and the theater has no paid employees. All contributions will be used in their entirety to ensure our theater will serve as an attractive venue for years to come.
To send your donation for the Haven, please mail your checks payable to Brookhaven Little Theatre at PO BOX 943, Brookhaven, MS 39602 If you can make a donation to Save the Haven in any amount (did we mention ANY amount?) please consider helping. The Brookhaven Little Theatre is a registered non-profit in Mississippi, so all donations are tax deductible.
Mail a check payable to
Brookhaven Little Theatre (SAVE THE HAVEN FUND)
PO Box 943
Brookhaven, MS 39602.
Thank you! And, we hope to see you in the audience soon
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