Delco theater seeks online donations

DELAWARE COUNTY

Theater seeks online donations

LANSDOWNE After months of renovations and the securing of a liquor license in historically dry Lansdowne, the backers of the Lansdowne Theater are seeking help in raising funds to continue restoring the Delaware County venue.

Through Oct. 15, the nonprofit group behind the Lansdowne Theater is asking for donations to its crowdfunding campaign, hosted on Indiegogo. All donations are to be used to renovate the theater, which operated from 1927 to 1987 and has since been vacant.

The Historic Lansdowne Theater Corp. bought the theater in 2007 with the goal of bringing new life to the 1,300-seat auditorium that long served as a movie theater. The theater is slated to open in 2017 as a concert hall featuring classic rock and adult alternative performers and singer-songwriters. "In a small town like Lansdowne, this theater was the center of social life in the community for a very long time," said Matt Schultz, executive director of the nonprofit.

As part of the campaign, supporters are eligible for gifts based on how much they donate. Gifts include T-shirts, private tours of the theater, and messages on the marquee. The state has committed $4 million for the project through its Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. The state funds will only be received, Schultz said, if they are matched by the theater. All donations are tax-deductible, he said. For information on the crowdfunding campaign, visit www.SaveTheLansdowne.com. - Caitlin McCabe