$1 million capital donation means the shows will go on for Globus at Lakeview Arts Barn
A $1 million donation means the shows will go on at Globus – and they’ll continue to go on at the Lakeview Arts Barn. That wasn’t a sure thing.
While Globus Theatre survived the brutal economic impact of the pandemic, the Lakeview Arts Barn as its venue did not.
After quadrupling its debt load during the COVID-19 shut-downs, owners James Barrett and Sarah Quick knew they could not continue to hold onto both the professional theatre company and the Barn. The Barn would have to go — unless they could pull off a $2 million capital campaign.
The chances of this seemed remote, they said a press conference, given the enormity of the number, and the fact that Globus had just launched a successful fundraising campaign in 2020 to “Save our Stage.”
And in order to do a proper capital campaign, half the funds — $1 million – was required to start.
To the shock of Quick and Barrett, though, that amount was donated by anonymous donors, enabling the capital campaign to officially launch.
“We were bowled over by the pledge of $1 million because of the faith it showed in Globus and the support for our future,” says Barrett.
He said they were anxious to see if launching a capital campaign with this donation was something that its key financial supporters wanted to see happen and the answer was overwhelmingly affirmative.
“This donation has got the ball rolling in a quite monumental way and sets us well on the path to raising a further million by the end of Globus’ 20th season in 2023,” says Barrett, noting that $100,000 in donations came in after that.
This summer, Globus will be running a full season of professional theatre from June 22 to August 27 at the Lakeview Arts Barn.
Their 2022 summer season is comprised of a world premiere murder mystery The Great 44th Fowler’s Falls Fall Fair Disaster written by Sarah Quick; two new Canadian comedies Meet My Sister by Bonnie Green and Screwball Comedy by the hugely popular Norm Foster; Leisa Way, back by popular demand, with Rock n Roll is Here to Stay; and the Canadian premiere of John Nicholson and Le Navet Bete’s The Three Musketeers (A Comedy Adventure!).
