| Apr 21, 2005


Feature article,April 21, 2005

Feature article April 21, 2005

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Trillium grant caps Little Theatre development Plans

by Jeff Green

As the North Frontenac Little Theatre headed towards its 25th Anniversary, the community theatre company took a look at its future development and decided to move forward on a few fronts. The first step was to become a not-for-profit corporation; the second was to establish a website; and the third was to mount a fundraising campaign in order to update their lighting system, purchase tools for set building, new curtains, multimedia equipment, and sponsor theatre workshops.

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The total cost of all these initiatives was pegged at $33,000. The Little theatre put in $2,600 from its own revenue, and received $1,500 from Sharbot Lake High School, $500 from the Limestone District School Board, and $300 each from the four northern feeder schools. The campaign was capped off when NFLT was informed a few weeks ago that a Trillium Foundation application from last fall had been approved, and a cheque for $28,100 arrived about 10 days ago.

Wasting no time, NFLT purchased removable curtains and put them in place in time for their production of Guys and Dolls last weekend. They also took delivery of a new $20,000 plus lighting system a few days before the opening of Guys and Dolls, but as Little Theatre President John Pariselli said at a Trillium announcement event last Friday, The manual for the new lighting system is 300 pages long and we were busy enough getting the show together, so we knew we would have to wait until after the production to install the new lights.

The lighting system which is to be replaced, was purchased with funds from a Wintario grant in the early 1980s, the only other grant the Little Theatre has ever received.

The announcement was attended by Don Clark, a member of the Trillium Foundations Grant Review team, MPP Leona Dombrowsky, Central Frontenac Mayor Bill MacDonald, and Sharbot Lake High School Principal Tom Taylor, along with the drama class at the school.

The relationship between the Little Theatre and the High School was highlighted. The High School has hosted the productions over the years, and students from the school have been involved with many of the productions, both on stage and behind the scenes. Tom Taylor also pointed out that the new lighting system will be set up in the High School and will be available for use by the High School as well.

Leona Dombrowsky said she was happy to be able to celebrate this occasion at Sharbot Lake High School. Live theatre provides great enjoyment for participants and members of the community, and also attracts visitors to the area. I congratulate the North Frontenac Little Theatre for helping to contribute to the quality of life in this community.

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