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Odyssey Fields, Evan Johnson, Amanda Kenney
1 hour ago
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted several businesses, and one professional theater wants to stay on stage.
For 15 years, the Virginia Children’s Theater (VCT) has served as the nation’s only professional theater dedicated to youth. Each year, the theater connects him with over 10,000 students through its in-house drama academy, outreach programs and performances. But since COVID-19, theaters have been unable to present productions with the same quality as before the pandemic.
Brett Rhoden, VCT’s Producing Artistic Director, said this is a difficult time for many theater companies. He said VCT was funded by the government during the pandemic but now has to fend for itself.
“We are getting through the pandemic, but customers are still not 100% back and spending is increasing.”
But to keep the stage alive, the VCT launched an “urgent fundraiser” with the goal of raising $100,000.
Roden said the funding would help get the company back to pre-pandemic health, but production could change. He shared that VCT is brainstorming some ideas for the fall season.
“We may not be able to produce at the scale of quality that everyone knows and loves. Until we can do that, it’s probably just slightly different to make it more accessible to us,” Roden said.
He said the VCT is still hosting a summer program, but he doesn’t know what it can do on the professional main stage.
“Anything you can give, even just a little bit, will help lead us to a better place,” Roden said.
Donations to VCT can be submitted here. For more information on the Virginia Children’s Theater, visit its website.
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