Venice Theatre, one of the largest community theaters in the United States, recently celebrated a major milestone as it continues its recovery from Hurricane Ian destruction.
The theater held a public beam-signing event to mark the final fundraising round of its campaign to rebuild the main stage Jervey Theatre, which was heavily damaged in 2022.
Nearly 100 families, dignitaries, donors, and industry partners gathered at the building site to leave their mark on the steel beams that will soon support the new venue, celebrating more than $20 million already raised.
“This moment transcends steel and concrete. It’s about the people who refused to let the arts vanish from their community,” said Kristofer Geddie, executive director of Venice Theatre and president of the American Association of Community Theatre. “Their support is shaping every aspect of the new Jervey Theatre, and I hope our story inspires other community theatres to trust in their ability to write their own next chapter, despite past challenges.”…