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.”
The theatre’s Next Act campaign seeks to rebuild its mainstage Jervey Theatre and its education facilities through support from state funds, local philanthropy, and matching gifts.
A new summer family-match campaign is underway to narrow the fundraising gap for the Jervey Theatre and make further progress by June 2026 for AACTWorldFest. This week-long international theatre festival will showcase global productions, parties, workshops, and more, and is expected to attract over 8,000 visitors.
As one of the largest community theaters in the United States, Venice Theatre welcomes more than 65,000 patrons annually through live performances, educational programs and community projects. Founded in 1950 and powered by more than 1,300 volunteers, the theater launched a $25 million restoration project in 2022 to grow its education facilities and rebuild its mainstage Jervey Theatre following Hurricane Ian’s devastation. It is projected to have a $50 million annual economic impact on the surrounding community.
Images courtesy of Venice Theatre.
