Erie Playhouse Lights Up Fundraiser

Nick Warren

Lights are a crucial part of theatre. They can throw a spotlight a monologue, help to gel a sense of calmness, anger, or anxiety. They illuminate marquees, and seeing "your name up in lights" has long been the dream of aspiring actors. They signify when a show is about to start, dimming three times, and when the house lights finally come up, the show's over.

Light is, too, often a symbol for hope. Illustrating something new and brighter at the end of a journey. It's important, and something worth working towards.

The Erie Playhouse, like many other local venues and businesses, has shut off its lights. The theatre, with its over 100-year history, has been forced to temporarily close. Furloughing all but two staff members, the stage has gone unadorned for the first time since World War II. Shows have been canceled and postponed, dramatically cutting off the revenue that the organization relies on. 

The complementary colored sign in purple and yellow along East 10th street has been turned off as well. The marquee is made up of hundreds of different light bulbs. There are stage lights and dressing room lights too, and by their best guess, there are around 1,500 throughout the building. 

Having recently launched a fundraising campaign, the Playhouse is asking donors to sponsor a light. Each $100 amount will account for one bulb. They've title it "Light the Playhouse," using the hashtag #lighttheplayhouse, looking to raise $150,000 in total. 

The campaign runs through May and June, until Wednesday, July 1. 

Eager theatergoers will have some good news as well. As recently, the Playhouse announced that they would be presenting a performance of Anton Chekov's The Proposal, streaming on May 16 and 17. 

For more information, and for more ways to donate, go to erieplayhouse.org.