The Legacy Theater in Carthage announced a $2 million building addition campaign, “A Vision for the Future,” at a special event on Saturday, June 13.
The project will create a new, covered entrance; an expanded lobby with space for concessions; and a multipurpose room. Renderings of the proposed addition were on display at the launch party, hosted by The Legacy Theater board.
“The Legacy Theater has built an excellent reputation for providing talent on stage and a place for groups to use,” said Legacy Theater Foundation board resident, Doug Groth. “The new building addition is the next step on what the Legacy can provide to patrons.”
At the time of the announcement, over $500,000 has already been raised in donations and pledges by leadership donors toward the project.
In the coming weeks, public meetings have been scheduled to explain the addition plan and to answer any questions. All are welcome to attend.
The first meeting is Thursday, June 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Warsaw Library Community Room.
Other meetings will follow: Monday, June 29, 6 to 7 p.m. at the Keokuk Public Library Round Room; Thursday, July 23, 6 to 7 p.m. at the Hamilton Community Center; and Thursday, Aug. 20, 6 to 7 p.m. at the Nauvoo Community Center.
The theater addition includes a drive-up entrance, accessed from College Ave., the street running along the west side of the theater. At the launch, Groth explained how the entry improves the safety and accessibility for patrons entering the theater, and can allow buses to load and unload conveniently.
“The lobby creates a space for people to gather before and after the shows, and for special events,” said Groth. “The multipurpose room will increase the kinds of events that can be hosted by the theater, and will add more features for meetings and events planned those in the community who use our facility.”
The room will allow for larger groups to be invited to perform at the theater. It will offer more rehearsal space for children’s theater productions currently offered twice a year and for dance school recitals.
With two large electronic boards mounted on its walls, the room would accommodate many different kinds of business and educational meetings for area groups renting the facility.
“This addition will make our theater more accessible, more inclusive, and more responsive to the needs of our audience and community members,” according to Legacy Theater executive director, Larissa McShane.
“While we have other fundraising campaigns that support programming, equipment, and theater operations, this capital campaign invites our community members and investors to play a transformative role in bringing The Legacy Theater into an exciting new chapter of community engagement.”
An estimated $2,000,000 in grants, donations, and pledges will be raised for the expansion. Pledges for the project can be paid over a three-year period. This total includes everything that will be used in the new building, the furniture, landscaping, and an allowance for price increases.
For the past 10 years, The Legacy Theater has offered a wide range of live entertainment since its opening show in June of 2016. For the past three years, the theater has provided children’s programming at no charge to schools of the region, giving over 6,000 students the experience of live theater. They have offered a chance for students to act on stage through the Missoula Children’s Theatre program, held two times each year.
For more information about The Legacy Theater, or this new expansion and capital campaign, contact Doug Groth at [email protected], or Larissa McShane, [email protected], 217-357-9479.
