Preserve Timber Lake Playhouse: Donate to Save the Stage
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Welcome to Timber Lake Playhouse's "Save The Stage" campaign. Since our humble beginnings in 1961, we've evolved into a cherished community cornerstone, delivering transformative theater experiences that inspire and entertain. Our stage has launched countless careers, fostering talents like Jennifer Garner, Michael Gross, and Tony Award winner Jayne Houdyshell.
Now, we stand at a critical crossroads. The financial challenges brought on by the pandemic, combined with rising costs in materials and labor, have placed our future in jeopardy. Without your support, we risk closing our doors forever. Your contribution can ensure that Timber Lake Playhouse continues to enrich lives, cultivate stars, and provide exceptional theatrical experiences for generations to come.
Since reopening post pandemic, Timber Lake Playhouse has welcomed over 70,000 enthusiastic audience members, but only 531 have contributed financially. As a non-profit dedicated to delivering high-quality theater, we urgently need your support to continue our mission.
Above all, we are interested in Full Transparency. By being forthright about our needs and goals, we hope to continue fostering a deeper connection with our supporters, demonstrating the impact of their contributions and the immediacy of our need and Save The Stage!
Our Situation:
- Post-COVID Debt: Despite our best efforts, the financial burden from the pandemic continues to loom over us, preventing normal operations let alone the limitation of our artistic potential.
- Rising Costs: With the cost of goods and services soaring, we’ve kept ticket prices steady to remain accessible to our patrons, relying on community generosity to bridge the gap.
- Seasonal Challenges: The summer season, our busiest time, is also our most financially strenuous. Expenses peak as our full company gathers, making your support vital at this specific time.
Our Key Messages:
- Heritage and Impact: Timber Lake Playhouse is not just a theatre; it’s a cultural cornerstone with a storied history of enriching lives and launching careers. This has been not only a destination for Carroll County, but also one of the most nationally cherished Summer Theatre’s in the country.
- Urgency: The need is immediate. Our beloved playhouse, which has held sixty-three consecutive years of programming, is at a critical crossroads. Your support can ensure that we continue to inspire and entertain for years to come.
- Community Support: Your donation, no matter the size, directly impacts our ability to operate and thrive. If you have the means to donate, incredible! If you do not, we need your help finding and sourcing the funds and increasing our need’s footprint. Join us in preserving a cherished institution that has been a beacon of arts and culture in our community for generations.
Our Vision:
- Financial Stability: Achieving our $500,000 goal will not only cover our immediate financial needs but also establish a foundation for long-term sustainability. With these funds, we can manage our debt, clear our line of credit, invest in future productions, and ensure that Timber Lake Playhouse remains a vibrant and vital part of our community. By securing financial stability, we can continue to provide high-quality theater, support emerging artists, and expand our educational programs, benefiting audiences and artists alike.
- New Season Format: We’re thrilled to unveil an innovative 5-show season with extended 3-week runs at the upcoming Gala. This format promises more opportunities for engagement and artistic excellence, while also cutting costs and preserving the stamina of our talent.
- Theatre Educational Program Intensive: We hope to introduce our Theatre Education Program Intensive in 2025 as a perfect alternative to traditional summer camps. This focused program runs for two three-week sessions, Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM during our season, immersing students fully in theater projects right alongside our professional company. The curriculum includes daily classes in dance, voice for musical theatre, and acting technique, emphasizing audition preparation. Students will also prepare for a tailor made showcase, featuring group numbers and possibly solos. We hope to make this an enriching and transformative experience for aspiring theater talent.
- The Andy Bro New Work Program: We also look towards launching the Andy Bro New Works Program in 2025, dedicated to nurturing and developing new theatrical works with World Premieres on the TLP stage. Named in honor of our co-founder, this program will support emerging playwrights and composers, offering them a platform to workshop and present their original pieces on a fast track to Broadway. With this initiative, we aim to foster innovation in the arts and provide our audience with fresh, compelling stories. We look to present a World Premiere under his name next season in partnership with a nationally accredited university.
No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.
More information can be found on our website
Organizer
Bill Titus
Organizer
Mount Carroll, IL