The Erie Playhouse has been forced to close its doors, dim its lights, and furlough all but two members our staff. For the first time since the Second World War, our stage is bare, and for the first time since its installation in 2010, our iconic marquee is dark as well. Postponing and cancelling events and performances has cut off our main source of revenue—the financial support of our loyal patrons through ticket sales.
This is an incredibly uncertain time for all of us. As much as anyone, we’re looking forward to the other side of this crisis, when we can all gather as friends once more, and we can see the lights back on at your Erie Playhouse as soon as it’s safely possible.
To open our doors and restart our productions, we need help to light the 1,500 bulbs that burn brightly on opening night.
We’re launching a fundraising campaign:
Light The Playhouse / #LightThePlayhouse
With each light being sponsored at $100 each, we can raise the $150,000 needed to light the marquee,
the house, and the LECOM stage.
NOTE: The CARES Act creates a new, one-time above-the-line deduction that applies to all taxpayers for total charitable contributions of up to $300. The incentive applies to all taxpayers, even people who use the standard deductions. Donations made to nonprofits in 2020 can be claimed on personal income tax filings next year. The CARES Act also lifts an existing cap on annual contributions for itemizers of 60 percent of adjusted gross income to 100 percent. For corporations, the same cap was increased from 10 percent to 25 percent.