Rose Foundation Achieves $5.25 Million Goal for Exterior Renovation

The Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center Foundation has hit its $5.25 million goal for the exterior phase of the capital campaign which began in April 2011. The goal of the campaign is to raise $6,000,195 to weatherproof and repair the roof, domes and facades of The Rose; to restore the ceiling of the lobby and mezzanine to how it originally looked in the 1920's; and to upgrade main stage lighting.

"I am thrilled to share that we've accomplished this goal," said Omaha Theater Company Managing Director Julie Walker, who is overseeing the renovation project. "Our amazing team of contractors is just days away from completing the exterior work. This will be the first winter in many years that The Rose will be secure from the elements!"

All of the scaffolding surrounding The Rose will be removed by mid-December, revealing the repointed brickwork and the over 400 newly molded and installed terra cotta decorative accents. Other aspects of the project, such as roof replacement and access to the interior of the rooftop domes, will help preserve the structural integrity of the building for years to come.

"We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the Omaha community," said Capital Campaign Chair and Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center Foundation Board Member Chris Blumkin. "We've received gifts ranging from millions of dollars from families who have treasured The Rose for generations, as well as small gifts of as little as a few dollars from children who are just now discovering the theater. Every dollar helps take us closer to our goal. The donation of hard-earned allowance money by children is appreciated just as much as larger gifts."

Now that the exterior phase of the capital campaign has been concluded, The Rose Foundation will begin raising the remaining $750,000 in January. This funding will underwrite a variety of interior projects including repairing the ceiling of the lobby and mezzanine and repainting the sky-themed mural in these two areas. In addition, the ceilings and The Rose main stage will be upgraded with new lighting. The lighting fixtures will be more energy efficient and will also allow The Rose's technical staff to incorporate more special lighting effects into productions.

"The capital campaign has been a community-wide effort," added Walker. In addition to foundation support, Rose members, staff and our board of directors have contributed over $20,000 to the campaign. We truly appreciate their investment in the future of The Rose."

The donors who have generously contributed so far to the capital campaign include: The Sherwood Foundation, Frances and Louis Blumkin Family Foundation, Kiewit Companies Foundation, Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation, Peter Kiewit Foundation, Ahmanson Foundation, William and Ruth Scott, Parker Family Foundation, Iowa West Foundation, Becker Foundation, Pacific Life Foundation, David Scott Foundation, Sunderland Foundation, Adah and Leon Millard Foundation and the Hawks Foundation.

For more information about the campaign, including a video about the project, please visit the "Support Us" tab on the website: www.rosetheater.org. Donations to the campaign are being accepted online at www.rosetheater.org or through The Rose Box Office at (402) 345-4849. Large donations and questions regarding the renovation and fundraising effort can be directed to Julie Walker at (402) 502-4622 or juliew@rosetheater.org.

The Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to support the preservation and maintenance of The Rose Theater. The Rose Foundation owns the theater, which is leased by the Omaha Theater Company.

Founded in 1949, the mission of the Omaha Theater Company is to enrich the lives of young people and their families through live theater and arts education. The company fulfills its mission by offering an exciting season of high-quality, youth-oriented drama productions, school field trips, in-school residencies and workshops, a wide range of performing arts classes, a dynamic youth theater program and a national tour.