LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Town Hall Theatre Awarded Major Grant from Lesher Foundation

Town Hall Theatre Company of Lafayette was awarded its first-ever $20,000 grant from the Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation. This was the most significant grant the nonprofit organization, with its modest budget and skeleton staff, has ever received.

Managing Director Dennis Markam, who also doubles as a Teaching artist, was thrilled. "Over the past decade Town Hall has taken sometimes slow, but always steady steps toward improving how we serve our community, our patrons, our volunteers, and our employees. This grant is immensely important in helping us build momentum as we enter our 72nd season."

Like most nonprofit theatres, Town Hall ticket receipts do not cover all operating costs. As part of their mission, ticket prices are deliberately kept affordable, so they cover only 40 percent of overall costs. The rest is covered through generous support from patrons, local businesses, and foundations.

The grant comes at the perfect time, as this year Town Hall is completing a new strategic plan that includes going green, hiring top notch artists for their Youth Program, and upgrading public areas to make them more welcoming. This grant is intended to help Town Hall cover these costs, and will be disbursed in $10,000 increments over two years.

Town Hall is located at 3535 School Street in downtown Lafayette, CA. For more about the theatre, its shows or youth program, check out www.townhalltheatre.com.