Fund Kenosha Theater's Comeback Journey

The Kenosha Theater Apartments had a kitchen fire in one unit the evening of July 10. The fire alarms triggered and every tenant in the building exited to safety. The fire department, apparently not knowing all of the tenants had exited and some, being on vacation, broke the doors and frames to several of the locked apartments. Better Safe than Sorry. The kitchen where it began was extinguished before the fire department arrived, but windows were broken to release the heavy smoke and several gallons of water were sprayed into the kitchen as a precaution, causing damage to the newly restored plaster in the lobby and outer foyer.

The Need

I am starting this GoFundMe because the deductible for the insurance is $10,000.

That cash setback, especially at this time, will prohibit much of the further restoration that was planned for this building season.

The Kenosha Theater is a local landmark. The building inspector recently reviewed and approved the drawings of the planned phased restoration. Construction drawings are only weeks away. I work there diligently most every day to move the ball forward towards the creation of a 250-seat cabaret underneath the balcony that can open by the spring of 2026. Getting that portion opened for next season was the goal. Its planned operations would help fund the further restoration and modernization of the entire facility.

Since my brother Tim passed away in 2020, I have been working to restore the beautiful interior of the Kenosha Theater. The restoration has been made possible with funding from Community State Bank and the sustaining income from the 12 apartments in the building complex that my brother and I worked together for more than two decades to remodel and maintain, Small online fund drives run by volunteers have also helped significantly.

After my brother and I retired, we set out to make time for major progress on the theater itself. However, Tim unexpectedly contracted amyloidosis, which debilitated him shortly after we had purchased the heavy equipment and tools to further the restoration. He succumbed to his illness in December of 2020.

Since then, I have worked to restore the lobby and outer foyer with a great independent contractor while also doing the demolition work with my son and a few outstanding volunteers. The work we’re doing is required to modernize certain facilities for today’s audiences. There is still a lot of work to be done.

Having to divert even the smallest amount of funding at this time will cause the project to downsize to just me, a 71-year-old man, climbing scaffolding and doing all the work myself for the remainder of this season.

It is really nice to afford to have help.

Covering the insurance deductible early in the process will allow the project to overcome the setback and continue toward the goal of being open in 2026.

A 250-seat modern venue in a restored historic auditorium was within reach. Without help, the setback could put the opening into 2027… and I’m not getting any younger!

The theater restoration project itself is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) that has had great volunteers over the years.

There is so much more to the story.

you can read more about it at kenoshatheater. org

For those who would like to help reopen a major local landmark and create a great space for touring acts, I’ve created this GoFundMe.

Thank you so very much for any donations you can offer.

Sincerely,

Jeff Baas