Help Curtain 440 Get Their Permanent Home

SUMMARY

Founded in 2019, Curtain 440 is a traveling community theater company. We pride ourselves in providing a consistent, welcoming, and safe place in the community, dedicating ourselves to fostering performers and artists of all skill levels and ages.

For five years, we have gone everywhere and anywhere to provide quality theater to our audiences, whether that meant rehearsing and performing in churches, schools, a field, a parking lot, a basement.

Even with weekly changes in venues, and Covid shutting us down just one year into our venture, this has remained constant: our large base of performers and staff members, and a wonderful audience that has followed us all over three counties.

Without having a permanent home, we are struggling to build upon our programs. After five years of searching, we have found a building that is less than 10 minutes from our primary rehearsal space in Chardon and will help ensure that we will be able to bring quality community theater and education opportunities for years to come.

THE GOAL

We are raising money to put a minimum of $50,000 as a down payment. A generous sponsor has agreed to match up to $25,000 to help us reach this goal.

Any and all help is appreciated as we take on mortgage, utilities, and taxes, but we also will have some construction costs. We need to build a stage, install curtains, convert a kitchen space into a dressing room, and more to make this the Curtain 440 home we’ve all been dreaming of! We have a full season planned, more youth opportunities in the works, and so many wonderful things that we can’t wait to dive into if we can get a home!

TESTIMONIALS

“I could spend hours listing all of the theater skills and unique talents my daughter has developed through the years, but that isn’t the most remarkable thing about Curtain 440. The strong, independent women behind this production company were my daughter’s most incredible role models. They taught her to stand up for herself, believe in herself, and use her voice. They taught her empathy and how to be brave and try something new.” —Mandi Matchinga, Curtain 440 performer/patron/parent

“Curtain 440 has definitely changed me for the better in so many ways. Theater has helped me find myself as a person, and I truly don’t know where I would be without it. Curtain 440 has this sense of family, kindness, and warmth that I’ve never experienced with any other theater company.” —Ava Carbone, age 14

“I honestly have made so many core memories with this group. I’ve learned so much about theatre, and at the same time made new bonds with cast members whether it’s the opening night jitters, the strike, the curtain call or cast parties. It’s all helped me become a better person. I think we can all say that Curtain 440 is a home, but we would love to continue our journey with a stable home.” -Chelsea Jones, age 12

“Curtain 440 inspires, challenges, educates and entertains. They serve our local community offering volunteer opportunities, supporting local businesses, and making a positive impact in th lives of both children and adults.” —Skiiy Berglund, Curtain 440 patron/parent

“I have been delighted in the caliber of productions and talent that Curtain 440 provides.” —Dianne Rudy, Curtain 440 patron

“The directors of Curtain 440 are invaluable. They are able to produce amazing shows of high quality using our local talent. All while practicing and performing in churches, schools, or at Century Village. Literally, wherever they can find a space for a stage to be assembled. I can only imagine what they would be able to do with a permanent home.” —Melissa Chamblin, Curtain 440 patron/parent