Help Build a Kansas City Theatre Hub in the West Bottoms!
The Living Room Theatre and Fishtank Theatre are two stalwarts of the Kansas City theatre community. For over a decade, we have produced groundbreaking work in the Crossroads Arts District, and supported young companies and visionary playwrights developing new work.
However, Kansas City is changing. Space is becoming more precious and more expensive, and both companies are feeling the space squeeze. To change this, The Living Room and Fishtank are joining forces to build a theatre hub for Kansas City in the West Bottoms.
Our goal is to raise $25,000 from donors to secure our new home as an affordable, flexible, viable space for not only our companies, but the dozens of companies we have offered a home to in the past.
What’s the need-to-know?
- The campaign will begin on Feb 16th at 5:30 PM with an event at The Living Room’s current space.
- It will continue for 7 weeks to culminate at a campaign closing celebration at the Blackbox April 5th.
- Our goal is to raise $25,000, because...
- Theatre League has pledged to match every dollar raised, up to $25,000.
Haven’t I heard of a theatre space in the West Bottoms?
You probably have! Fishtank is currently developing The Blackbox, a space-in-progress at 1060 Union Street.
The Blackbox is a usable theatre space, but this campaign will allow The Living Room to partner with Fishtank as a second resident company. It will ensure the long-term viability of both companies. Furthermore, this will enable both companies to affordably rent the to space young companies and emerging artists, as they have done for years in the Crossroads.
What will the money do?
The Blackbox space is currently being used by the Fishtank, and the capital campaign will:
- Cover transition costs for The Living Room as we empty the building at 1818 McGee.
- Allow us to relocate and install our lights and seats in the Blackbox.
- Ensure that young rental companies that FT and TLR have historically nurtured will have an affordable and well-equipped place to produce.
- Build an awesome and permanent outdoor theatre patio
- Help us transform the on-site “Creepy Abandoned Storage Shed” into the “Well-Lit and Safe Woodshop.”
How else can I help?
Be an ambassador! We are seeking people who can help us spread the word about our campaign, and find generous souls among their friends and family to help us reach our goal. You can check out our ambassador campaign here<link>.