Through the renovation and stabilization of ten buildings with about 44,000 square feet of historic property in downtown Paducah, the campaign will expand classroom, rehearsal and performance space to meet increased demand for arts programming.
“We were bursting at the seams,” Executive Director Michael Cochran says. “This project grew out of a sheer need for more space.”
Cochran said they've been quietly laying groundwork behind the scenes for this campaign for about two years.
"We've been working on this project a long time. A lot of things have had to fall into place to do this, and today was a big day for us to go to the public phase of this," Cochran said.
After 34 years with the theatre, Cochran recognized a need and an opportunity to expand in order to make the arts more accessible to children and adults in Western Kentucky.
“We were committed to staying in the historic Market House Building,” says Cochran. “By acquiring and rehabilitating adjacent properties, we could create an arts education campus that would be easily accessible to all who wish to participate in our classes and programs. In addition, we would be preserving nearly two city blocks of historic buildings.”
The Next Stage Campaign will allow the theatre to add four classrooms, two rehearsal spaces and a scene shop for off-site set construction. In addition, the project doubles the audience and stage capacity of the current studio theatre and provides long-overdue renovations to the lobby and restrooms of the current Market House building.
This renovation project addresses multiple challenges facing the theatre. Expanding the capacity to conduct multiple classes and rehearsals simultaneously, extending the performance run of popular shows, and increasing the capacity of the studio theatre will improve the theatre’s program delivery and will provide additional arts offering to Paducah and the surrounding areas.
“Market House Theatre initiated the campaign by asking every member of the Board and our Trustees to support this project. The response was fantastic with 100% participation in the campaign,” Market House Theatre Board President Don Barger says.
So far, they have raised $2.3 million of the estimated $5 million needed to expand the Theatre’s facilities.
Cochran said, "We raised $350,000 from our 20-member board of directors, which motivated and inspired the start of this campaign. Then we went to our trustees (past presidents and others close to us), and that got us to the $1.2 million. We reached out to the next layer of people - business and corporations that have been connected with the theatre for many years - and that got us to over $2,3 million, where we are today. So we're going to be working with the general public to raise the rest of these funds to get this project completed."
So far, they have raised $2.3 million of the estimated $5 million needed to expand the Theatre’s facilities.
Cochran said, "We raised $350,000 from our 20-member board of directors, which motivated and inspired the start of this campaign. Then we went to our trustees (past presidents and others close to us), and that got us to the $1.2 million. We reached out to the next layer of people - business and corporations that have been connected with the theatre for many years - and that got us to over $2,3 million, where we are today. So we're going to be working with the general public to raise the rest of these funds to get this project completed."
With the support of the Board, community leaders, businesses and other Market House Theatre supporters, the non-profit arts organization has acquired five buildings in the last two years, including the Finkel’s building at the corner of Kentucky Avenue and 2nd Street, a gift from Meredith and Bill Schroeder.
“Some very generous gifts helped launch the project,” Campaign Co-chair Chip Bohle explains. “The Schroeder's gift of the Finkel’s building was a blessing.”
"I am very pleased that we were able to donate this building to further develop opportunities for children to receive high quality arts education in Paducah," Meredith Schroeder says. "The work that Market House Theatre has been doing for more than 50 years has helped Paducah build a positive legacy that future generations can enjoy."
That acquisition has allowed the Theatre to begin transforming its current campus into one that is more comprehensive.
“Having the space made immediately available to us makes the transition during our project completion manageable,” Campaign Co-chair Kristin Williams says. “However, while the space is currently usable, renovating the building will allow us to accomplish so much more in terms of expanding arts education and programming.
Jeane and Joe Framptom, Honorary Campaign Co-chairs and long-time Market House Theatre supporters, are pleased to have had the opportunity to support the project financially from its inception.
“The Next Stage Campaign is a creative and visionary endeavor that will enable Market House Theatre to expand and enhance arts and education programming to children and adults throughout our region," they said. "We are pleased the campaign is off to a strong beginning thanks to the capable leadership of the Market House Theatre Board and staff.”
With nearly half of the project cost raised to date, The Next Stage Campaign is moving forward to seek the funding necessary to “pay forward” the benefits of MHT for the next generation of children and adults served by the theatre in our area.
For more information on The Next Stage Campaign and ways to give, contact Michael Cochran or Development Coordinator Cindy Miller at 270-444-6828.
