While one local theater company completed a fundraising campaign this week, another local company is launching an emergency fundraising campaign.

INTIMAN Theatre successfully completed the “Show the Love” campaign with over $100,000 raised, shattering their $80,000 goal. Taproot Theatre is launching a $400,000 emergency campaign to pay for repairs to their Greenwood theater after vandals tore through two of the theater’s air conditioning units and stripped it for their copper.

"Over these five decades, Taproot has survived economic crashes, the digital revolution, a fire that destroyed our building, a literal explosion in our neighborhood, and a global pandemic, and we're still here," said Producing Artistic Director Karen Lund in a statement. "This vandalism and theft is threatening to shut us down once again, but we will persevere with the help of our friends and neighbors." Taproot is accepting donations at taproottheatre.org/together. For donation-related questions, contact Director of Development Gina Cavallo at 206.529.3678 or via email at development@taproottheatre.org. In the parlance of 19th century circus shows, “The show must go on!” “Right now, we have temporary measures in place for our run of Barefoot in the Park that opens on May 15,” Lund said. “For example, we routed our one remaining AC unit to the theatre and purchased additional portable AC units to keep the building comfortable through spring.

“Our goal is to complete the new HVAC installation and receive the City’s sign-off before the summer heat arrives. However, if temperatures rise sooner than expected – or if permitting and inspection timelines extend, we may be forced, for public health and safety reasons, to postpone classes or performances. We are doing everything we can to prevent that outcome, and we urgently need community support to stay on track.”

Taproot administrators discovered the vandalized air conditioning during the middle of the Ain’t Misbehavin’ run. The incident occurred on the theatre's roof where no cameras were able to capture the crime, according to a statement from Taproot Theatre. A police report has been filed but no suspects have been charged.

“We became aware of a problem when warmer weather arrived earlier this month and the theatre started becoming unusually hot at the end of performances of Ain’t Misbehavin,’” Lund said. “We brought in our HVAC specialist for a maintenance check; the thermostats, filters, and blowers appeared to be functioning, and we couldn’t identify an issue from inside the building. It wasn’t until an employee had the hunch that he should access the roof to inspect the units directly that we discovered the equipment had been vandalized and components stolen.”

The theater has raised over $50,000 in the first week of the emergency campaign, which runs through June 1. Acting Studio camps kick off the last week of June. The summer production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoast opens on the Jewell Mainstage on July 10.

“Everyday matters! Meeting this deadline gives us the best chance to keep our doors open and our programs on schedule,” Lund said

“We are working to move repairs forward as quickly as possible, but the larger, and time-sensitive piece, is replacing what was damaged, bringing the system up to code, and securing a City of Seattle sign-off. That approval process will determine how soon we can reliably cool the building for students, patrons, and staff as temperatures rise.”

INTIMAN Theatre moved the needle on their fundraising goal, shattering their initial $80,000 goal. For the season, the theater surpassed $500,000 in sales, registered 425 active members, issued more than 700 Free for Everyone tickets, drew over 10,000 audience members, created career pathways for 18 Associate Degrees and taught over 350 high school students.