The Jefferson Playhouse - Phase 2
PHASE II - A NEW WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE RESTROOM IN THE LOBBY
This little company that started with 7 students in a bare storefront has grown to a bustling professional theatre and school - now serving over 800 students of all ages, and performing for thousands and thousands of audience members every year.
In 2015, we expanded to a third space to accommodate more performers and more audience members. The historic Jefferson Theatre is a 1914 movie theatre, located just 1/2 block from our studio spaces. It was - to put it nicely - a mess when we moved in. Your generosity last year helped us raise the $10,000 we needed to transform it. We never could have made it happen without the generosity of our families and supporters.
The new “Jefferson Playhouse - Home of Windy City Music Theatre” has been received with wild enthusiasm! Parents, students, patrons and teachers all see our campus - and the new theatre, in particular, as an ARTISTIC HOME. It's a place where teaching, learning, mentoring, discovering, and creating happen. Maybe you know a youngster who found her voice this year in our space.
PHASE 2 BEGINS! We are ready to begin Phase 2, a ground floor lobby restroom for the public which will add more lavatories, and make the theatre more wheelchair-friendly. Our Phase II Goal is $6,000 to pay for half of the restroom addition, and we're planning to get it built and open by February 2016 in time for our spring shows.
Hiring an architect, getting permits, adding plumbing...these are all things that are very expensive.
We’re committed to keeping tuition rates static in the next year, and to maintaining a very generous level of financial aid for families who need it (we give away 35-40% of our total tuition budget to families who need assistance every semester), so we are counting on our supporters to help us raise $6,000 to make this new restroom a reality.
We've added a new giving level. We are looking for at least one family to help with a gift of $1500, which will get the ball rolling, and will get their name attached to the door of the new addition on a permanent gold plate.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY GIVEN, THANK YOU! WOULD YOU CONSIDER RAISING YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO HELP MAKE THIS PROJECT A REALITY?
IF YOU HAVEN'T YET HAD A CHANCE, WE'D LOVE TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WALL OF CONTRIBUTORS AND LIST OF DONORS IN OUR PLAYBILL FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF SHOWS! ANY AMOUNT HELPS - REALLY!
Donations to the new theatre will be recognized in a few special ways:
DONATIONS OF $1,500 or MORE:
--Name attached permanently to the new addition on a gold plate, reading: "This improvement made possible by the generosity of _______" - plus...
DONATIONS OF $500 or MORE:
--4 "All-Access" passes to enjoy all Windy City Music Theatre shows - Youth, Teen, Page2Stage and Mainstage for 2015-16, plus...
DONATIONS OF $50 or MORE:-
--Family name listed on the permanent Wall of Gratitude in the theatre lobby
--Tickets to special events like "First Reads" for Mainstage shows, and opening night toasts.
ALL DONATIONS OF ANY AMOUNT:
--Name listed in the playbill for our Mainstage productions in 2015 and 2016
--Invitation to our Mainstage productions Opening Night cast meet & greet and champagne toast (after the show).
Think about this: If every family we are serving in 2015-16 donated just $8 to our campaign, we would easily meet and surpass our goal of $6,000. It’s that easy!
If you would rather mail a check, please make sure you write "NEW THEATRE CAMPAIGN" in the memo line, and send to: Windy City Music Theatre | 4766 No. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60630