Heritage Fund: The Bartholomew County Community Foundation and the Crump Theatre will hold the first of three open houses to discuss progress, plans and possibilities for the downtown theater next week.

In April, Heritage Fund announced the launch of Project Encore, an effort to establish a formal charity for the theatre restoration to raise money to turn the theatre into the Crump Center for the Performing Arts. The goal is to finish revamping the theatre to make it viable for year-round live entertainment. Plans include a fully operational balcony, expanded lobby and outdoor areas, event space, state-of-the-art lighting and sound and programming for regional touring acts.

Last year, the theater celebrated its 135th anniversary and is believed to be the oldest operational theater in the state. For years, the aging theater was closed because it didn’t meet current fire, building and safety standards. It has been brought back to life largely through volunteer efforts. Those culminated in August of 2023 when the building was found to be structurally sound and earned a renewed entertainment permit

Heritage Fund awarded a $50,000 grant, matched by private funders, to establish Project Encore.

The open house will be on Thursday, May 29th. There will be an update on the current status of The Crump, introduction of its new Board of Directors and a discussion of the goals for the future. You will also be able to see three sets of design ideas for the projects.

The program is free and you are invited to attend. Doors will open at the theatre on Third Street at 5 p.m. and the program will start at 5:30 p.m.

You can get more information at thecrump.org.