Bruce G. Alexander Foundation Awards Challenge Grant to
North Country Center for the Arts’ Playhouse Capital Campaign
LINCOLN, NH June 15, 2009 – North Country Center for the Arts (NCCA) is pleased to announce that the Bruce G. Alexander Foundation has pledged $100,000 in a challenge grant to NCCA’s capital campaign to build Jean’s Playhouse. The Playhouse will be a new, year-round performing arts center in Lincoln, providing a venue for the award-winning Papermill Theatre, as well as community events. The challenge is extended to the citizens of the towns of Lincoln and Woodstock, NH, to help match the $100,000 by making a donation to NCCA’s capital campaign.
Bruce Alexander loved the Theatre and was a much-loved performer on its stage, debuting in the first production of Pirates of Penzance and continuing on to play many key roles. He was the proprietor of Truant’s Taverne, and was well known for his community involvement: active in the Chamber of Commerce; president of the Lincoln-Woodstock Rotary Club; and serving for many years as a trustee and as president of NCCA. During his life, Bruce was generous with his time and energy. In 2001, he passed away following a long struggle with cancer, and left a generous legacy to the community through creation of his Foundation.
"Bruce was a strong supporter of NCCA and participated as an actor in several of its productions. Bruce created the Bruce G. Alexander Foundation, in part, for the purpose of contributing financially to the long-term success of NCCA, and we are very excited to have this opportunity,” said Duncan Riley, president of the Foundation. “Bruce would be very pleased with the efforts undertaken by so many people to make a permanent home for NCCA a reality, and would not pass up the chance to be part of this effort. We make this gift in honor of Bruce's memory, in anticipation of many years of fine arts entertainment, and with the belief that this gift will encourage others to participate as well.”
“NCCA is grateful for Bruce’s contributions during his lifetime as well as his financial generosity made possible through his foresight and planning, to help the theatre organization grow and prosper. We sincerely hope that our local communities will answer the Foundation’s challenge and help to fulfill Bruce’s vision and gift to the local arts by making their own contribution,” said Rick Kelley, president of NCCA Board of Trustees.
The new 250-seat facility will replace NCCA’s current Papermill Theatre, will be fully accessible, insulated and climate controlled, and will also be available for community activities. Jean’s Playhouse is named for Jean Hallager, another important longtime champion of the Papermill Theatre and other cultural centers in the area. This year-round facility will allow NCCA to expand the outstanding cultural entertainment available to both adults and children throughout north central New Hampshire. NCCA’s current venue, located in the former Franconia Paper Mill in Lincoln, will be demolished to make way for the new InnSeason Resorts’ Riverwalk project.
A capital campaign is now underway to raise a total of $2.6 million for construction of the new theatre facility. For more information or to make a donation, please call 603-745-6032 or visit papermilltheatre.org.
Photo: Michael Conklin, Trustee of the Bruce Alexander Foundation, presents the challenge grant
check to Rick Kelley, President of the NCCA Board of Trustees
Founded in 1986, North Country Center for the Arts (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. Visit papermilltheatre.org for a schedule of performances and events.
