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Strand Theatre: Weekly Newsletter - 5/2/2025
May 2, 2025 Strand Theatre
Weekly Newsletter
Shelby County's Performing Arts CenterVolume 19 Number 17
Our 18th Season
...Building an Audience, One Seat at a TimeDear Strand Fan,Well that certainly was not the week we expected. THANK YOU For the outpouring of support. When we say outpouring, we mean outpouring. Our social media numbers were incredible.On our closure post in the first 24 hours we had:107,708 views (total times the post has appeared on screen)40,558 (number of individual accounts that saw the post)1,050 interactions (like/reaction/share/saves)78% follower views22% non follower viewsWow! Our followup opening post had 25,383 views in the first few hours. That is incredible and humbling to our organization.We were contacted by many venues offering help. Thank you to the Artcraft Theatre in Franklin, the Wortman Family Theatre in Shelbyville, the Paramount Theatre in Anderson, the Pixy Theatre in Edinburg and many others. We were contacted by venues from eastern Ohio to northern California.Our performers effected sent the following:The chance to bring the show to Shelbyville was to be an incredible opportunity to share this fascinating story, which I premiered Off-Broadway and have toured through 19 countries on 4 continents over the past 8 1/2 years. I have been very honored that David Finkel believes strongly that Shelbyville audiences will delight in this incredible story.
The Strand has served as a vital asset to all in Shelby County bringing arts events to Shelbyville since 1916 - including film, theatre, music, community performances, and educational events. That all scheduled events were temporarily tabled is an incredible loss to the community, each audience member, community organizations, and to all artists who were scheduled to share their work.
Heather Massie - Performer/Playwright/Producer: HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy LamarrPerforming at the Strand helps with community arts engagement and gives our community a chance to experience the Shelbyville High School Band Department. We appreciate the opportunity to showcase our student's talent in this venue.Allison Anderson - Shelbyville High School Band DirectorSeveral people have been working behind the scenes to make this happen. Our insurance agent Matt was at the theater immediately and worked with the insurance company and city to get the documentation needed. Adam Rude and Tyler Comstock from the City were able to facilitate the items needed. This all happened in a VERY short amount of time.Bottom line, we are fully insured with our current building and the plans for demolition of the Broadway Street buildings. This was provided in writing to the Strand. Thank you.The decision to suspend did not come easily. This week we had 6 performances. We had been working on the question of insurance for our building since one of the bid contractors pointed out the potential problem. Steve Frazee and David Finkel had to make a decision in a hurry, as the liability on them was huge. The future was unknown. Initially they hoped to have it resolved by June, but we're amazed the solution was 36 hours later.Thank you for the dozens of phone calls, texts, emails, and even stopping David or Steve in the street to offer words of support. They heard from Strand Fans near and far.Tara Griffith, a Strand patron (and popcorn lover), started a Go-Fund me page. Elizabeth F. talked to our web vendor and was able to have a donation button added to our site within hours. Thank you to those who donated. As of last night the two sites combined have raised over $1000! We refunded $688 dollars in tickets and fees.Steve and David went on WSVX Radio on Thursday morning to answer questions live on the air. We sent two Special Strand Emails (editor's note: the first with the wrong subject...oops!) and answered numerous media requests.Our live shows were cancelled in May, but other programs remain with the exception of the City of Shelbyville's event on May 22 and the Advantage Shelby County Graduation on May 6. Advantage Shelby County reached out to us with the following statement:Following information received on Tuesday, April 29, regarding the closure of the Strand Theatre, Advantage Shelby County has relocated its upcoming graduation ceremony to the Triton Jr./Sr. High School Auditorium. In order to provide timely notice to all stakeholders, the decision was made prior to the resolution of the Strand Theatre’s ongoing insurance matters. We remain grateful for the Strand Theatre’s continued support of Advantage Shelby County. The graduation ceremony will take place on May 7 at 6:00 PM.
Megan Davis - Executive Director of Cohort Programs - Ivy Tech Community CollegeThis is a wonderful event and we encourage you to attend.Many have asked how they can help. Simply: come to a performance or show. We are also taking donations on our website www.StrandPAC.org. We are in a great time of need, as we had to pay artists contracts and expenses with no revenue.Thank you for the support. Thank you for the belief that Shelbyville and Shelby County deserves a venue for all types of entertainment. We'll see YOU at the Strand!If you would like to volunteer for an event reply to this email, join our Facebook Volunteer Group, or call 317-395-3318
Shelby County’s Performing Arts Center
Website:
www.StrandPAC.org
Follow us on Twitter:
@strandshelby
Like us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/The.Strand.Theatre
Instagram:
@Strand.Shelby"Building an audience one seat at a time."
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday Night Film Series
TWISTER (1996)
Tuesday May 6
7pm
4 Sand Events
STAGE ME UP:
A GATEWAY TO IPOP
Saturday May 10
Registration only
Southwestern High School
Music Department
MAYFEST
Monday May 12
7pm Free
Tuesday Night Film Series
TWISTERS (2024)
Tuesday May 13
7pm
Friday Night Frights
THE SHINING (1980)
Friday May 16
7pm
Tuesday Night Film Series
BACKDRAFT (1991)
Tuesday May 20
7pm
Tuesday Night Film Series
DANTE'S PEAK (1997)
Tuesday May 27
7pm
"Building an audience, one seat at a time."
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