Brawley Playhouse reaches milestone
BRAWLEY — The Brawley Community Foundation is proud to announce the completion of Phase 1 of the reconstruction of the Brawley Playhouse Theatre, located at 124 N. Plaza St. here. To date, the Brawley Community Foundation has invested more than $350,000 securing the building and in engineering plans, environmental assessments, remediation and demolition.
To celebrate this milestone, a press conference will be held in front of the Brawley Playhouse Theatre at 4:30 p.m. March 1, followed by a tour of the theatre and a networking/fundraising campaign at the Brawley Elks Lodge #1420.
The Brawley Playhouse Theatre closed its doors in the late 1970s, leaving a void in the community and a visible blight, which if improved will be the cornerstone to returning arts, entertainment and culture from a historic era of Imperial Valley’s past.
This is Brawley Community Foundation’s second major project, the first being the Brawley Hotel. This led to the refurbishment of the adjacent Dunlack Hotel and part of the master plan to restore historic downtown Brawley.
Since 2013, BCF’s efforts toward the Brawley Playhouse Theatre have raised $37,000 from community members, and $180,000 in grant funds to complete engineering, façade improvements and demolition.
Brawley Community Foundation would like to give thanks to our generous contributions from “Raise the Roof” campaign contributors, county of Imperial, Imperial Irrigation District, Imperial Valley Community Foundation, Elm’s Equipment, Green Construction, Sanders Inc. Architecture Engineering, NoCCA, Ryan Brandt, Stills Electric and others.
The next phase of this project will encompass a refurbishment of the lobby, adding restrooms, offices, rebuilding the fly and building a new stage.
Through generous donations in time, talent and treasure, we have reached a major milestone and are ready to begin a transformation of not only the Brawley Playhouse Theatre but our historic downtown district.
With support from the community and our generous sponsors, we hope to be able to open the theater to the public in the fall of 2018 with arts and musical productions.
Please join us at the press conference, followed by limited tours and a discussion on our vision for the future of Brawley Playhouse Theatre.
Donor forms and sponsorship opportunities will be provided and ways that the community can get involved. After the press conference and tours, Brawley Elks Lodge #1420 has invited us as their guests to join them for the Brawley Chamber of Commerce mixer located at 161 S. Plaza.