The Village Theatre in Issaquah received a massive, anonymous donation that could keep the venue afloat.
A donor gifted the theater $3 million. It will help the theater reopen after the pandemic.
“We are ecstatic and honored and humbled by the gift,” said Frank Stilwagner with Village Theatre.
It’s been a year since the theater went dark.
COVID-19 forced the closure and layoff of 170 people, not to mention losses in the millions. But this week, an anonymous donor started to make up for that with a huge donation to help reopen the theater.
“The intent of the donor was to inspire others to give to the Village Theatre,” said Silwagner.
The theater saw nearly all of its revenue streams dry up in the last year. It has always been supported by donors in it’s 42-year history, but this payback during the pandemic is unprecedented.
“It is the single largest gift that we’ve ever received,” said Stilwagner.
It will help ensure that the theater and its shows endure.
“Three million is great but it’s just the beginning,” said Stilwagner.
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The donor may be anonymous, but the Village Theatre will get to keep a high profile in Issaquah and Everett for years to come.
The gift will help productions return in 2022, develop new works and bring staff back -- all with the goal of getting people back into seats
“It’s going to mean a lot to everybody. It’s going to mean a lot just to welcome back our staff,” said Stilwagner.
The theater has had a village of donors supporting it, but this one large donor hopes others join to help bring the lights back on and the curtain up.
“We’ve all had this vision of what it would be like to open again here and we want it to be celebratory, we want it to be joyous and we want it to be safe,” said Stilwagner.
Cox Media Group
