Theatre Bristol launched the Cameo Arts Capital Campaign this year to draw down its debt as quickly as possible — and is reaching out to the community for its support.
“Theatre Bristol is a positive community asset, building confidence in children and adults, entertaining and broadening minds and experiences and contributing to the economic wellbeing of our community for 60 years. Theatre Bristol has made great strides, but we operate on a very thin margin made possible by the generosity of benefactors and volunteers,” says Samantha Gray, the executive director.
“We have taken a leap of faith to preserve a community treasure for the sake of the community, while simultaneously endeavoring to increase our sustainability. The Cameo Theatre will help Theatre Bristol increase capacity — by going from 94 seats in our beloved black box ARTspace theater to having over 500 seats. Over time, the increased activity should be felt by our downtown businesses, with more shows, audiences, shopping and dining, and hopefully long term, increased stability for Theatre Bristol — including needed theater staff positions.
“We hope the community will join with us and help make it a success. Our goal is to pay down our new debt, $1 million, as quickly as possible, as well as complete important improvements in the ARTspace, with the community’s support. The needed improvements will make the ARTspace black box space transitional - with more comfortable seats, and options for dinner theater, theater-in-the-round, thrust stage, arena stage and ballroom dancing, all right on State Street,” Gray says.
Theatre Bristol will be making significant investments and sacrifices to sustain its downtown buildings. They are asking the community to contribute toward helping them become debt-free. Every gift to the Cameo Arts Capital Campaign will help reduce the monthly payment and strengthen Theatre Bristol.
Visit www.theatrebristol.org/donate to contribute to the campaign.
