Astra Theatre ready for The Next Act; group to purchase the historic theatre in December

Raising $465,000 is a daunting task for any group, regardless of the cause.

But that is what was needed to begin the process of reopening the Astra Theatre; $300,000 for an endowment to create an annual fund to pay for the theatre’s maintenance and about $165,000 to purchase the building — the sales price hasn’t been disclosed but it was originally listed for about $165,000.

Last October,  Marc Steczyk, Leslie Hamby, Courtney Knies, Selena Vonderheide, Jay Hamlin, and Eddie Luegers — the young group of community members that comprise The Next Act, Inc. — daringly came forward with a public announcement of their intentions to raise the money for both goals.

The Jasper Community Arts Commission had already approved creating a plan to purchase the old theatre as a potential anchor point bringing the city arts program downtown. With Next Act’s announcement though, the arts commission backed off with intentions to potentially enter into a lease or management arrangement with the venue.

But first, Next Act had to raise a lot of money.

They were challenged by the Dubois County Community Foundation to create an endowment first. The foundation would give them a dollar for every two dollars they were able to raise up to $100,000.

Armed with this matching contribution, the group began to meet with potential donors on a one-on-one basis. They had hopes that individuals and corporations, their hearts warmed by the Christmas season, would be looking for some last minute impactful donations and of course, everyone could fall in love with relighting that classic marque in downtown Jasper.

But not many jumped up with checkbook in hand. It was disheartening to the group so committed to recreating the Astra as a new venue for performing arts, concerts and of course, movies.

Their movement had gotten a lot of press and plenty of Facebook likes and shares. But social media engagement and virtual activism doesn’t necessarily equate to dollars.

The members were facing some insurmountable odds and even broached developing an exit strategy. “It wasn’t taking off,” Next Act president Marc Steczyk said.

Then in January, “Some of the asks we had made in November and December began calling us back,” Steczyk said. “It was a little boost for us and then in February things kinda slowed again.”

It was about this time that Pat and Jim Thyen stepped to the plate with a $20,000 donation. “We were just going to see how they were doing,” Pat said about the donation. “But they had such a passion and commitment to seeing this through.”

The couple could see the group was at a low point in their endeavor.

“Jim and Pat provided one of the first sparks in what was an otherwise long and cold and slow financial time for Next Act,” Steczyk said. “It was a spark we needed. That one investment ignited a series of investments that started a hot streak that for the most part has continued to this day.”

As for many people, Pat has fond memories of the Astra Theatre. “I had my first date and we sat in the third row right there,” she said.

Additionally, her parents ran a drive-in at Washington when she was growing up, “I got to eat a lot of dill pickles and hot dogs and watch movies in the car in my pajamas,” she said.

She and Jim could see the long term impact reopening the theatre could have for the community culturally as well as economically. Jim was the president and CEO of Kimball International for many years until he retired last year. “We use things like this to attract talent to the area,” Pat said.

With the reinvigorated attitude, the group met their first goal a few days after the self-imposed deadline of March 31 and the Dubois County Community Foundation made their largest donation ever with the $100,000 in matching funds.

The endowment was created and would now provide an annual payout to support the building’s maintenance and other needs.

Riding the high, they continued to build towards their fundraising goal for the purchase. With about $56,000 left to raise for the purchase of the building, a series of events at the theatre was scheduled over the first weekend in October. It was designed to showcase the potential for the future of the theatre.

On Friday, over a 100 people stopped in for the free screenings of film entries into the Southwest Indiana Film Fest put on by Film Dubois County. Saturday, Next Act filled the theatre with over 200 ticketholders to a blues concert featuring Boscoe France. Then on Sunday, the Jasper Downtown Merchants Association hosted a free children’s movie that filled the theatre again.

For the group, it seemed those events caused many people to finally realize what the theatre could become and the impact it could have on the community’s growth.

Soon after, Pat and Jim invited Steczyk and Next Act Chair Leslie Hamby to their home to discuss Next Act’s progress. It was during that meeting that the couple informed the two board members they planned on rounding out their $20,000 grant to Next Act with an additional $80,000.

“There were tears,” Steczyk said. “Our mouths dropped open when they told us what they were going to do.”

Phase I was complete.

On Tuesday, The Next Act held a public meeting to announce they would be closing on the theatre on December 1 — a little over 13 months after announcing their intentions.

Pat read remarks from Jim, who was unable to attend due to an illness. “You’ve worked hard to shape your mission and your dream. We agree with your vision,” she read. “Your vision brings innovation, creativity and the opportunity for the arts into our community and our region. We have observed your hard work this past year. Your teamwork, your determination, your persistence and your perseverance.”

“Investing in The Next Act, Inc. is an investment into our community and our children,” Pat continued. “No amount is too small and we urge everyone in our community to become an investor today.”

In honor of the Thyens’ commitment and belief in their cause, Next Act, Inc., surprised Pat by revealing that the stage in the Astra would be named “The Jim and Pat Thyen Performance Stage.” A four-by-two sign will be affixed to the front of the stage in honor of their contribution of encouragement and dollars.

“With their amazing investment, Jim and Pat showed a belief and trust in us and the work that we are doing,” said Steczyk during the announcement Tuesday. “It is a belief and trust that we will always cherish and will always honor by doing the right thing for not only the Astra, but arts and culture in our entire county.”

In all the group has raised nearly $500,0000. The investment by the Thyens and the many other community members and organizations has not only paid for the endowment and the building, but it has provided seed money to be used to acquire grants for the necessary improvements.

“We will have money to provide the matching funds for grants to complete the renovations of the building,” Steczyk said.

“To say this is a community achievement is quite an understatement,” said Leslie Hamby, Next Act’s Chairperson.  “We had significant support from the corporate and philanthropic communities, as well as tremendous support from individuals.

“This is the beginning of a rebirth for the Astra and we are incredibly thankful for all of the community support,” she said.

[adrotate group=”16″]

About Next Act

The 501c3 not-for-profit began efforts to raise money in late-October/early-November of 2014—just over one year ago. An initial $300,000 was raised to create an endowment within the Dubois County Community Foundation (DCCF), the yearly proceeds of which will be used for utilities, insurance, and routine maintenance.  An additional amount—now nearing $200,000—was raised to purchase the building, as well as provide seed money for a more public fundraising campaign designed to assist with ADA-compliance and renovation needs.  This campaign, phase 2, will launch early in 2016.

Among the many sizeable contributions to the cause, there were three milestone investments:

• First, the DCCF challenged Next Act to raise an initial $200,000 and, when complete, it then granted the organization $1 for every $2 that were raised, capping their gift at an even $100,000.
• The Friends of the Arts, a Jasper-based 501c3 charged with promoting and encouraging a better understanding of the arts within Dubois County, granted Next Act $50,000.
• On the private side, Jim and Pat Thyen invested $100,000 into Next Act’s journey to save the Astra—making them by far the largest private contributor in this cause.

Next Act has received donations of $1,000 or more from 36 private individuals and 28 corporations. These donors will be recognized as Marquee Society Members and their names will be affixed on the interior walls of the Astra, Hamby said.  There have been donations of lesser amounts.

A complete list of the “Marquee Society” donors/investors ($1,000 and above and during phase 1 only), see below.

For additional information about Next Act, Inc., visit www.TheNextAct.org, like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TheNextAct), or follow them on Twitter (www.twitter.com/NextAct_Inc).

Donations can also be sent to Next Act, P.O. Box 23, Jasper IN 47547.

Donors

Marquee Society Members ($1,000 and above, phase 1 donors)

Private

• Tim and Susan Barry
• Mike and Maureen Braun
• Joe and Donna Buehler
• Dave and Brenda Buehler
• Mitch and Nila Clark
• Dan and Sara Fritch
• Anthony and Audrey Habig Family
• John and Carma Habig
• Nancy & Doug Habig
• Leslie & Daniel Hamby
• Jay & Audra Hamlin
• Mike and Caroline Jones Family
• Linda and John Kahle
• Courtney Knies
• Ray and Nancy Larkin
• Dave and Sharon Luegers Family
• Eddie Luegers
• Jeryl Luegers and Shelley Otto
• Mike and Marilyn Luegers
• Matt and Sherry Monesmith and Family
• Robin L. Norris
• Bob and Ann Schneider
• Mike and Pam Schwenk
• Ray Schwenk
• Brad and Debbie Seger
• Tom and Cindy Seger
• Paul and Beth Seidl/Wilsons Flowers Inc.
• Ken and Janet Sendelweck
• The Bob and Josie Siebert Endowment
• Kevin & Lindsey Smith (ampersand was specifically requested)
• Marilynn Sonderman in memory of Louise Sonderman
• Marc & Emi Steczyk
• Jim and Pat Thyen
• Selena & Kurt Vonderheide
• Brad & Cara Ward
• Paul and Sheila Wendholt

Corporate

• “ABC (America’s Best Communities) Team Jasper”
• Ackerman Oil Company, Inc.
• Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP
• Bob Luegers Motors
• Dubois County Community Foundation
• Dubois County Visitor Center
• Emerging Leaders
• Finishing Touches
• Friends of the Arts
• German American
• Herald Endowment for Literacy in Honor of A.T. and Cecilia Rumbach or The Herald Endowment for Literacy
• InForm Design
• Jasper Engines & Transmissions
• Jasper Lions Club
• Just Whimsy
• Kersteins Homes and Designs
• Kimball Electronics, Inc.
• Kimball International-Habig Foundation
• Masterbrand Cabinets, Inc.
• Meyer Distributing
• Monarch Beverage/Miller Lite
• Old National Bank
• Seufert Construction
• Smithville Charitable Foundation
• Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company
• Toyota Indiana
• TrueScripts