GREAT Theatre’s Matching Grant Challenge Hopes to Raise $500,000 By Year’s End

WAITE PARK -- The final act of GREAT Theatre's Capital Campaign has started with an exciting plot twist.

Mike and Karel Helgeson and Steve and Deb Palmer have challenged Central Minnesota to raise $250,000 by December 31st, which they will match dollar-for-dollar.

GREAT Theatre Executive and Artistic Director Dennis Whipple says the money raised will be used to enhance the backstage facilities towards their onstage performances.

"This gift will expand to help us create a Learning Lab Theater, a unique, one of a kind facility where youth and adults of all abilities can create theater onstage and backstage," says Whipple.

The Learning Lab will feature mobile staging, seating and state-of-the-art lighting and sound.

Whipple says the matching grant will raise a record amount towards the campaign and ensure GREAT Theatre continues their high quality tradition of performances.

"For 19 years I've had the honor of to watch the growth of GREAT Theatre. Over 62,000 people a year participate in GREAT Theatre and now we need your help to reach our goal," says Whipple.

GREAT Theatres Capital Campaign kicked off in September 2015. They hope to raise around $1.7-million-dollars.