In late September I received the following email from The Colonial about some structural issues they were having at the theatre and how they needed financial help from members. I decided since they hosted Henry Rollins and Victoria Price in October, both of which I planned to and did see, that I should absolutely make October's donation go entirely to them.
Dear Colonial friend,
I write you with an urgent request.
As you may know, the Association for the Colonial Theatre maintains a Building Improvement Fund for emergency repairs. We do not dip into it casually.
Unfortunately, not one but two impactful situations have, within weeks, revealed themselves. Both require work that will dramatically deplete our fund.
First, we discovered wet carpet on the lower level, outside the White Rabbit Theatre. The leak was traced to a pipe coupling that had worn out and burst, depositing four feet of standing water behind the wall near the Berry Theatre entrance. This is the type of incident the building fund is designed to remedy, and we addressed it without delay. But then...
Our second surprise involved the ceiling immediately above the concession stand. Due to a failing rooftop HVAC system, a buildup of condensate leaked through the ceiling. It took several sessions to repair the HVAC unit, which is now working again. Water damage from the leaks, though, has compromised the ceiling plaster. You'll now see some scaffolding in the lobby while our contractor rectifies that situation.
In any theatre, the concession stand is a crucial source of operating income. While assessing the safety of the area, we closed the stand on two different evenings. With your patience, we'll all work around the scaffolding and our concession stand will remain open.
Both of these events occurred after our Board of Directors had agreed to repair the historic ceiling medallion in the 1903 theatre. We have engaged Aaron Greene of A Greene Shop to perform the repair. This will proactively help ensure safety in the 1903 theatre, and allow us to remove the tarp that has been a longtime eyesore. This work began on earlier this week and will continue to the end of September.
Individually, each of these situations is costly; together, they jeopardize our ability to address the next unexpected event--even if it is relatively minor in comparison. Currently the Building Improvement Fund stands at $183,000. These repairs will leave it with less than $90,000.
The theatre needs your help. Any discretionary contribution you can make right now to our Building Improvement Fund will be greatly appreciated. To be clear, this is an appeal apart from our ongoing restoration effort. It is a direct request to help keep the doors open in the wake of two building emergencies. Your contribution will also help us be ready for whatever comes next.
There are several ways to contribute immediately:
This request is not made lightly. We value the loyalty of our supporters, and the generosity of our benefactors. Together, we will continue to nurture our community by presenting the performing arts that entertain, inform, and enlighten.
Thank you for your continued patronage.
Jennifer L. Carlson
Executive Director
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