Waukesha Civic Theatre Case for Support

TO ENTERTAIN, ENRICH, ENGAGE, AND CHALLENGE

Mission

Waukesha Civic Theatre is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to provide quality live theatre performances and educational opportunities that will entertain, enrich, engage, and challenge the whole Waukesha Community.

Our Vision

for the Waukesha Civic Theatre Human-to-human connections and community are essential in our lives. One of the most profound ways of experiencing these connections is through community theatre. Theatre is the powerful connection to our shared humanity, an emotional rollercoaster of lessons learned, joy and sorrow juxtaposed. Community theatre is perhaps best understood with the emphasis on “community”, with the whole team contributing through so many roles – creating, rehearsing, producing, and performing. Theatre education for both children and adults have such life-long positive results including role playing, confidence building, risk taking, team building, and developing empathy for others. And…never has our world needed more the radical empathy that theatre can offer, and more specifically what the Waukesha Civic Theatre can provide to our community as a gathering place for arts education and entertainment.

“From the time my son was very young, he had the desire to perform for us, for others and a moment didn’t go by when he wasn’t singing, dancing or making up plays. When he started school, technology entered his life and I saw that confidence and personality diminishing.

Discovering theater at WCT helped him regain that desire and confidence to perform. WCT gave him a creative outlet that not only positively challenged him but gave him the chance to feel success through his engagement with other children and adults who have become role models for him. Having the opportunity to perform in main stage productions, WCT has become a secondary home and family for him. I believe he is being given the chance to learn how to become a smarter, braver and more well-rounded human being.”

- Doreen Plautz, Parent The Waukesha Civic Theatre has been a community gathering place to celebrate the arts, education, and the humanities for 65 years. The Waukesha Civic Theatre was involved in the Christmas parade tragedy, and we feel the pain along with our whole community. Our staff and volunteers tended to the injured, opened our doors to hundreds, and calmed the distressed as we helped reunite families. We grieve deeply with our community, but like the rest of Waukesha, WCT is Waukesha Strong. We are committed to helping the community heal and recover – to be part of returning the downtown to vibrancy and hope in the future. With your help, we will recover from this pain, and we will be stronger than ever, serving our community for decades to come.

HOW WE SERVE OUR WAUKESHA COMMUNITY 3,000 STUDENTS SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY

12 AREA SCHOOLS SERVED BY THE ACADEMY OUTREACH PROGRAM

50 LIVE PRODUCTIONS EACH YEAR

10 SPECIAL EVENTS EACH YEAR

COMMUNITY IMPACT WITH THE EXPANSION

4,000 STUDENTS TO BE SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY

20 AREA SCHOOLS TO BE SERVED BY THE ACADEMY OUTREACH PROGRAM

OVER 75 LIVE PRODUCTIONS EACH YEAR

25 SPECIAL EVENTS EACH YEAR

HOW WE DO IT

Located on Main Street in the historic PIX Theatre, the Waukesha Civic Theatre, is in the heart of our community, literally and figuratively. The Waukesha Civic Theatre has outgrown its physical space, however the demands and interest in the programs, events and services has continued to increase. The theatre is bursting at the seams with classes, workshops, camps, auditions, rehearsals, movies, and performances.

OVER 1,000 VOLUNTEERS 80+ PAID GUEST ARTISTS 4 FULL TIME STAFF MEMBERS 10-15 PART TIME STAFF MEMBERS

Serendipitously, the retail location immediately adjacent to the Theatre’s current space became available in 2019 and the property was purchased with the generous gift left to WCT by John J. Bryant III. This newly acquired space will allow the Theatre to expand and meet the current demands as well allowing the team at Waukesha Civic Theatre to expand the ways in which they serve the community as an event location, live arts venue, and education home.

“At this point in the Theatre’s history, to be able to bring a project like the Academy Expansion Project forward, will be life-changing for the community. The passion that goes into the educational programs and productions today is just incredible, but we are at a crossroads. Our current space cannot accommodate the demand for our programs and services. With sincere gratitude for you and your past support, I ask that you reply with a resounding “yes” when asked for a gift so we can meet not only the needs of today but set in place opportunities for future generations.” – Eric Larson, WCT Board President

The Academy Expansion Project Understanding the impact that theatre has on our community, and everyone associated with it, the Waukesha Civic Theatre has embarked upon the Academy Expansion Project, an exciting journey of reimagining and renovating the entire new building and existing lobby and facade to bring an improved experience and more capacity to the Theatre. We are looking to restore and beautify our thumbprint in Downtown Waukesha, while expanding our performances and education spaces to serve more of our community.

This project includes: a bright rehearsal and reception area, a small new theatre, with backstage dressing rooms for performers and sound and lighting booth for technicians, and a collaborative office suite for staff and interns. Additionally, the existing lobby will be remodeled, allowing for enhanced guest services areas such as the box office, rest rooms, concession, and bar areas. These physical amenities are the foundation for growing the educational programs and community engagement and ensuring that future generations will have the same opportunities to learn and grow from experiences that only theatre and arts education can provide.

LOBBY

EXTERIOR FACELIFT Images provided by OPN Architects

REHEARSAL ROOM

BLACK BOX

How You Can Help We have the necessary space to expand, we have the vision and the plan to move it forward, what we need is the financial commitment of donors like you to make this dream come to life.

To commit to the architect and builders, to stay on track with beginning and completing the work, we must meet a spring 2022 fundraising deadline.

Our fundraising goal is $3.4M for the building renovation and construction, including theatrical equipment for a fully operating performance space. We have also established an endowment fund, with earnings to be used to help fund ongoing operational costs for long-term sustainability of the Theatre, through a partnership with the Waukesha County Community Foundation.

Contributions can be made in the form of cash, stock, cryptocurrency, or a multi-year pledge.

Naming opportunities are available at specified giving levels that designate specific areas of the building in your name, your family’s name or in memory of a loved one. A sign or plaque will be placed in or on the respective area or item being funded.

“When Bryce and Anne Styza gave the Pix Theatre to the Civic Theatre, at the time I think that the community was looking to see that this space be something more than just a parking lot,” comments Andrea Bryant, WCT donor. And it did become so much more. Bringing the Waukesha Civic Theatre downtown and converting the Pix Theatre brought hundreds of people from far and wide. With the theatre having such great community impact over the years, it is especially important to help the WCT continue to flourish. Andrea Bryant says it so well, “I’d like to see more people come and support the theatre. Monetarily we can’t do what we would like to do without the support of our community.”

You may want to consider a gift of appreciated stocks or real estate, or directing your IRA required minimum distribution to the Waukesha Civic Theatre. Additional options include naming the Waukesha Civic Theatre as a beneficiary on your life insurance policies or making a provision in your will or estate plan in the form of a bequest.

We want to be sure that our investment of the adjacent property comes to life and generates both community engagement and revenue producing opportunities. The time is now, and the impact is forever. Please give generously. Thank you for considering a gift to the Waukesha Civic Theatre.

For additional information on how you can support the work of the Waukesha Civic Theatre through a charitable gift, please contact: Rhonda Schmidt, Executive Director rschmidt@waukeshacivictheatre.org | 414-322-9823

“When I first stepped foot in Waukesha Civic Theatre in Winter 2021, I was floored with the welcoming and peaceful atmosphere surrounding me. Not only was the staff and volunteers friendly, they were very informative regarding my new found passion of acting. At WCT, my diversity was embraced and I was able to take on the persona of different characters in which I truly enjoy. I love the challenge of learning new profound skills, meeting other people, and simply having fun. My experience with WCT has given me greater confidence on stage and in my personal life, which I feel has helped me grow as a person. I am so blessed and grateful that WCT is a part of my life”.

- Patrice Hood, Actor