BROWNSTOWN
As Jackson County Community Theatre’s 50th anniversary season approaches, the board of directors plans to upgrade the facility in Brownstown.
The priorities are raising money to buy new seats and putting a fresh coat of paint on interior walls.
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If enough funds are raised, additional projects include upgrades to lights and sound, a new curtain for the stage and renovation of the old lobby and ticketing area.
The hope is to secure 50 new memberships, $50,000 in community donations and 50 new volunteers, both actors and crew.
“What we really want to try to do is get people excited about this because we’re excited, and we’ve had lots and lots of people come to the theater over the years,” said Karen Haas, a theater board member who also is on the 50th anniversary committee.
The board decided it was time to enhance the theater-going experience for the community.
Haas said sections of the seats in the theater have been replaced over the years, so some are vinyl, and some are cloth.
“We have a hodgepodge,” she said. “We want to get it all the same.”
The board has decided to go with movie theater-style seats from Irwin Seating Co., which manufactures seats for movie theaters, performing arts venues, stadiums and other venues. They will include cup holders.
As the board members researched options, they found out the company recently completed seating upgrades at Clowes Hall on the Butler University campus in Indianapolis.
After seeing the seats at Clowes, they were confident Irwin was the right company to complete a high-quality seating upgrade for the theater.
A sample seat is available to view in the lobby of the theater, 121 W. Walnut St., during upcoming shows.
“It will be comfortable like a movie theater seat,” Haas said. “We also wanted to make sure we had handicap-accessible seats, too. We don’t really have a great setup for that now, but we will with the new seats, so we’re excited about that.”
Brochures with information about the 50th season and giving levels and a flier with information about the new seats recently were mailed to season ticket holders and members. The next wave of mailers were sent to local businesses to drum up support for the theater renovations.
There are six giving levels, ranging from contributor level ($1 to 249) to William Shakespeare level ($5,000 and above).
Those giving $250 or more will have a nameplate placed on one of the new seats, have their name listed in the season program and receive tickets to the 50th anniversary party.
Each nameplate can accommodate three lines of up to 25 characters each. People may choose to donate a seat in memory or in honor of someone or they can have their name or business name inscribed on the nameplate.
“That’s cool because people can take ownership and say, ‘I was a part of this. I made this happen,’ which is, I think, all about community, and I love that,” Haas said. “I just think it’s really exciting.”
Donors giving $1,000 or more also will have their name on a plaque at the theater, while those donating $2,500 or more also will receive tickets to theater shows.
Those wanting to sponsor more than one seat should complete a donor card for each seat and mail it with a check to JCCT, P.O. Box 65, Brownstown, IN 47220.
The current seats will be removed in February. The theater crew will then paint the house before seats are installed in March.
The new seats will be debuted during the production of “Half and Half,” which opens in April and is the last show of the 2018-19 season. The 50th season will start in the fall of 2019.
“Once the renovations are complete, we’re going to have a fancy party,” Haas said. “You get to come and see all of the renovations and see all of the changes that have happened at the theater.”
She said the theater board also has discussed what to do with the old seats, possibly selling them or accepting donations for them.
“We haven’t worked through that completely yet, but that’s something that’s going on in our heads,” Haas said.
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For information about the Jackson County Community Theatre’s 50th season and how you can contribute to upgrades at the Brownstown facility, visit jcct.org/50th-season.
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