Theatre Nova Announces $3,000 Indiegogo Matching Gift to Renovate The Yellow Barn

Theatre Nova, Ann Arbor's professional playwrights' theatre, launched its Indiegogo-based membership drive on February 11, with the goal of rallying enough memberships to raise $15,000 to finish its fundraising effort to renovate The Yellow Barn, a 2,500 square foot space located at 416 West Huron, into a unique, 85-seat "micro-theatre" and launch its six show season. Six weeks later, still over $7,000 from its goal, the group announced that it has secured a 1 to 1 matching gift that will double the gifts of all donors through the end of the campaign (up to $3,000).

Artistic Director Carla Milarch is thrilled with this latest development. "Meeting our fundraising goal is very important in the overall scheme of Theatre Nova's life. As a start up nonprofit, we can't write most grants until we've produced three seasons or more, which puts a lot of pressure on individual gifts, memberships, and ticket sales. If people are interested in the future of Theatre Nova and what we can accomplish for Michigan playwrights and new play lovers, we hope they'll pitch in any amount they can - even if it's five dollars! With this matching gift, that five dollars becomes ten!"

Milarch continues: "Thanks to the generosity of our patrons and friends, we've covered a lot of ground in the past two months, and we're ALMOST within striking distance. We're hoping that this added incentive now will convince people to make their gift while they have a chance to see it go further, and put us over the top!" The campaign will end on April 11 at 11:59 pm.

Like many Indiegogo campaigns, Theatre Nova's is both a sale and a fundraiser. Thanks to its unique membership-based admissions model, anyone making a campaign contribution of $75 or more receives an annual membership good for admission to all of the shows in the 2015 season as a "perk". Special levels above and below the $75 level offer fun and unusual perks like handmade Theatre Nova confetti, an autographed photo from Cooper Barnes (star of Nickelodeon's "Henry Danger"), a custom-written song by Ann Arbor based composer R. MacKenzie Lewis, live dedications from the stage before performances, as well as handmade items from local Etsy artisans Lynn Fiorentino and ChicalooKate (in addition to tickets and memberships to Theatre Nova.)

Funds raised through the effort will support the installation of two (2) ADA compliant bathrooms in the space, and add a wheelchair ramp to the front of the building, making the barn more accessible for all three groups that share the space: Theatre Nova, The Yellow Barn Events and Classes, and The Greenroom Church.

The campaign can be viewed here. For more about Theatre Nova, visit www.theatrenova.org or www.facebook.com/theatrenova.

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