Community Theatre launches drive

PJ staff report | January 24, 2012

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Community Theatre of Greensboro

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Community Theatre of Greensboro has kicked of a capital campaign to raise $2 million to buy the Broach Theatre property at 520 South Elm St. downtown.

Chaired by Greensboro lawyer Sally B. Cone and Adrian Smith, owner and operator of 10 McDonalds franchises in the Triad, the campaign already has raised over $750,000 in gifts and pledges from over 35 donors.

The Community Theatre, which was founded in 1949 and says it is the oldest arts organization in Guilford County, directly serves roughly 49,000 children, teens and adults a year, with its theater-education program serving over 600 children a year through classes, camps, workshops and productions.

The troupe has facing growing demand for services it says it can't keep up with because of the performance locations it rents, and its small rehearsal and office spaces at the Greensboro Cultural Center.

"For the first time, our board and staff feel confident that purchasing our own home is a real possibility," Mitchell Sommers, who has served as executive director for 22 years, says in a statement.

Lead gifts to the campaign include $250,000 from the family of Barbara and Herman Cone Jr., $150,000 from The Cemala Foundation, and $100,000 from Donald L. and Sandra L. Henson.

Honorary campaign co-chairs are community leaders Barbara Cone and Doris Tanger.

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