The Opelousas Little Theatre has been approved to receive grant funding from the City of Opelousas.
The ‘Little Playhouse in the Park’ was one of twelve businesses/property owners in Opelousas to have been awarded a portion of $100,000 in funding through the Building Improvement Grant (BIG). The grant program, which first launched in 2021, offers dollar-for-dollar matching grant funds for building improvements. The program is funded through the Opelousas Downtown Development District with support from the City of Opelousas and Opelousas Main Street, Inc.
How the Grant Works
Opelousas Little Theatre Director Dana Reed said the grant money will be put towards much-needed repairs and improvements to the exterior of the building. As part of the grant funding program, the little theatre hopes to raise $10,000 to match the grant that has been approved by the city of Opelousas for these necessary repairs. One way the theatre is working on raising these funds is through ongoing productions that are casted by volunteer community members and by filling up the seats in the theatre with paying viewers who come out and support the arts.
The little theatre, which is housed in an 1880s-era church that has held hundreds of plays in Opelousas since first formed in 1939, is kept alive by a small group of fervently dedicated individuals that range from teenagers to decades long members. With plays ranging from timeless classics to the wonderous world of Lewis Caroll and a local talent showcase held annually, these local players will put their heart and soul on the stage for its audience.
If you have not yet caught the latest production, Little Women– the play adaptation of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel, you can catch one of the upcoming performances this weekend with shows starting Thursday through Saturday, July 18, 19, & 20th at 7pm and a Sunday matinee at 2pm and again next weekend Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27th at 7pm and the last matinee Sunday matinee on July 28th at 2pm. Tickets for shows are available for purchase at Sebastien Dupre Fine Jewelry, online from their square site and at the door for $10. Online donations can also be made in support of the theatre on their website.
Second Round of Grant Funding
During the June ODDD meeting, the board decided to open a second round of Building Improvement Grants. Qualified business and/or commercial property owners in the Opelousas Downtown Development District can now apply for grant funds for building rehabilitation work through the Building Improvement Grant (BIG) program. The deadline for submitting applications is August 15, 2024. An applicant may apply for a grant project from $500 to up to $10,000. To read more about the grant and download the grant materials, visit: https://bit.ly/4cUp9Ff
