Timber Lake Playhouse launches $1.4 million capital campaign

MOUNT CARROLL – Timber Lake Playhouse is planning $1.4 million in renovations in the next 5 years and is working on expanding its theater season to December.

The summer stock theater south of Mount Carroll at 8215 Black Oak Road recently launched a capital campaign to raise funds for several upgrades, starting off with a $95,755 tourism grant from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

“This grant came at a perfect time,” Timber Lake Board President Robin Saar said. “We wanted to announce a capital campaign that would address the needs of the theatre for the next several years and were looking for the best way to unveil it. Receiving this grant is a great boost to start the campaign.”

The first phase of the work is winterization with insulating and enclosing the open-air lobby as well as installing new HVAC in the theater using the grant money and the 50 percent funding match that it requires, totaling around $191,511.

Donors are already stepping up to fund improvements for the theater campus, which drew about 29,000 people last year, and Executive Director Dan Danielowski said they could bring in another 5,000 or so by stretching the theater season from May into December.

“We have a donor who will match, dollar for dollar, all donations up to $100,000,” he said.

Also, the Willow Springs Charitable Foundation has committed to matching all individual donations to the campaign.

In addition to the winterization, new housing, rehearsal areas, and dining facilities are part of the 5-year project, and Danielowski and Artistic Director Paul Stancato are planning programming for the fall and winter, which could include additional concerts and performances as well as a haunted October and a Christmas celebration.

“We presently have three shows in rehearsal and one in production,” Stancato said. “As we grow, we need more space to rehearse and additional housing for company members.”

Founded in 1961, Timber Lake Playhouse is the oldest continuously operating professional and resident summer stock theater company in the state, and it brings in tourists throughout the region.