L/A Community Little Theaatre members and supporters were instrumental in securing a federal grant for the theatre of almost $100,000. From left are are Eileen Messina, Chip Morrison, Bob Gardner, John Cleveland, John Blanchette and Jen Groover. Contributed photo
AUBURN — The L/A Community Little Theatre has been awarded a federal grant of almost $100,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The theater applied for the Shuttered Venue Operating Grant through a competitive application process. The grant program, designed to support arts organizations that had to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 passed by Congress and signed by President Biden.
“Community Little Theatre is very grateful for the grant funds provided by the SVOG program,” said CLT President John Blanchette, according to a news release from the theater. “After more than a year without any operating income due to the pandemic shutdown, this grant is critical to CLT being able to start a new season of live theater performances for the greater L-A community.”
The grant amount totals approximately 45% of the theater’s operating expenses during the last full season and must be used within one year of the award. While these funds are vital in enabling the theater to resume productions this fall, the theater will still need additional revenue from ticket sales, donors, and sponsors to pay for any capital improvements and the balance of the operating expenses for the coming year.
John Cleveland, president of Community Dynamics Corporation of Auburn, submitted the grant on behalf of the theater. “It was a pleasure to help the theatre prepare this successful SVOG grant application to acquire operating funds for the coming season. Performing arts are an important and essential part of making the Lewiston-Auburn area a wonderful place to live and work,” Cleveland said.
While in March 2020 the pandemic forced the cancellation of the remainder of theater’s 80th season and the loss of significant revenue, the theater managed to remain solvent and to produce two highly-regarded online productions during its curtailed 81st season and to resume youth theater camps this summer.
The theater will present its first in-person production since the start of the pandemic with A. R. Gurney’s “Love Letters,” which will open Thursday, Sept 16. The remainder of the 2020-21 season — the theater’s 82nd — will be announced at its annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.
For general information or to purchase tickets for “Love Letters,” visit laclt.com.
L/A Community Little Theatre, at 30 Academy St., has been producing live theatre since 1940. A volunteer, nonprofit organization, its goal is to provide affordable and quality entertainment in the performing arts as well as education, training and experience in theater for area youth.
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