Jean’s Playhouse

For 24 years the Mainstage and Children’s Theatre companies created magic from the old paper mill building, but in the fall of 2009, the time came for the building to come down and for a new facility, so richly deserved, to take its place. 

North Country Center for the Arts has embarked on an ambitious capital campaign to raise $2.6 million to construct Jean’s Playhouse, a 15,000 square foot facility situated on 1.78 acres of land donated by the town of Lincoln. Named for long time NCCA supporter and community leader Jean Hallager, Jean’s Playhouse will be the new year-round home to the production and administrative spaces for the North Country Center for the Arts. It will carry on the tradition of the Papermill Theatre productions, while expanding the possibilities for year-round theatrical, musical, visual arts and community uses.

The approximately 15,000 square foot building will be fully accessible, insulated and climate controlled. Amenities will include comfortable seating, a spacious lobby, and ticketing and concession areas. NCCA offices on-site will enable year-round and seasonal staff to work closely together toward common artistic, production and business goals. Behind the scenes, there will be a complete upgrade of workspaces with windows and natural light, modern and convenient loading facilities, clean and bright dressing rooms, set design and storage areas and kitchen/support areas. Visitors will find a conveniently located parking lot with over 90 spaces.

The concrete foundation for Jean’s Playhouse was poured in mid-November of 2009 and the framing of the facility is anticipated to be completed by the Spring of 2010. The grand opening of Jean’s Playhouse is anticipated to be celebrated in 2011.

Land, construction, contingencies, furnishings & fixtures, equipment and other expenses will result in a total construction cost of $2.6 million.

Benefits to the Community

With the construction of Jean’s Playhouse, NCCA will be able to benefit the community in the following ways:

• Positively influencing the lives of our youth though performances and outreach programs
• Producing and presenting a greater number of award-winning Broadway shows and events
• Providing much needed facilities to community schools, non-profits and arts organizations
• Strengthening the region and its businesses through coordinated efforts to attract visitors

Opportunities to Participate
Make a Contribution

• Pledge your support over a five-year period.
• Ask your employer if they will match your gift of support.
• In-kind contributions are welcomed. Please contact us for a list of items.
  

Endowment Fund
An endowment fund has been established with the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation for those people wishing to endow North Country Center for the Arts. The endowment is currently yielding 4.6% annually. A planned giving campaign will begin upon completion of theater.

Gifts of Stock and Securities
To facilitate these transactions, a trading account has been established with the brokerage firm of Edward Jones in Plymouth, NH.

Host a fundraising reception in your home or office
Gather your friends and colleagues to learn more about the campaign. We will assist you in the planning and execution of your reception.

Naming Opportunities
Significant components of the project are available for naming rights.

To pledge your support or learn more about Jean’s Playhouse, email Kim Frydman or call (603) 745-6032.

Pledge Form

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CONTACT: Kim Frydman 603-745-6032 kfrydman@papermilltheatre.org

NORTH COUNTRY CENTER FOR THE ARTS CELEBRATES POURING OF CONCRETE FOUNDATION FOR JEAN'S PLAYHOUSE, A NEW YEAR-ROUND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

$2.6 Million Capital Campaign Continues for New Community Theatre Facility

LINCOLN, NH November 16, 2009 - Over 70 people turned out today to help North Country Center for the Arts (NCCA) celebrate pouring of the concrete foundation for Jean's Playhouse, a new, year-round community performing arts center in Lincoln, and the future home of NCCA's Papermill Theatre.

"This is a very exciting day for NCCA," said NCCA President Rick Kelley. "This is something that we have looked forward to for a very long time and we feel that it is important to celebrate this milestone with our community and supporters."

The concrete pouring ceremony took place just to the southwest of the current Papermill Theatre building in Lincoln, on a parcel of land that was donated to NCCA by the Town of Lincoln in 2008. The new 15,000-square-foot, 250-seat building will include space for set design and construction, storage, as well as NCCA's administrative offices. The facility will be fully accessible, insulated and climate controlled, and will also be available for community activities and use by other non-profit organizations.

Named for Jean Hallager, one of the prime movers behind the success of the Papermill Theatre and other cultural centers in the area, the year-round facility will allow NCCA to offer more of the outstanding entertainment and cultural offerings for local residents and visitors for which it has become known. NCCA's youth programs - live performances, outreach programs, camps and school vacation programs for youth will also be expanded.

The former Franconia Paper Mill building, NCCA's current facility and the theatre's home for the past 23 years, is being demolished to make way for the new InnSeason Resorts' Riverwalk project.

Despite the challenging economy, the ongoing capital campaign has been very successful to date, already raising half of the necessary funding for the building. Fundraising is continuing to reach the goal necessary to complete the construction of the new theatre facility. "We are thrilled with the support that we have received to date and are confident that we will not only reach our campaign goal but surpass it," states Al Simensen, Campaign Chair.

For more information or to make a donation, call 603-745-6032 or visit papermilltheatre.org.

Founded in 1986, the NCCA is a community based and supported 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization that promotes the performing and visual arts throughout north central New Hampshire by producing live, professional-quality artistic, educational, and entertaining programs for all ages. The excellence of the acting, directing, choreography and producing of NCCA productions has resulted in numerous awards from The New Hampshire Theatre Awards Program.

The Children's Theatre performs all original musical adaptations of favorite children's tales six days a week for eight weeks during the months of July and August. Shows are presented in NCCA's home community of Lincoln, as well as a number of other communities including Claremont, Meriden, Concord, Waterville Valley, North Conway and Plymouth. The Children's Theatre plans to expand its schedule to include additional communities in the future.