A major fire at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday sent a local theater company scrambling to ensure their show would go on, with some help from Bellarmine University.
Looking for Lilith Theatre Company was scheduled to open "We. Are. Here." at the Kentucky Center tonight, until a fire damaged the facility's roof and water that extinguished the fire damaged the main lobby. Officials there are still assessing the damage and working to set a date to re-open.
Megan Burnett, director of Bellarmine's
theatre program, offered Looking for Lilith use of the Black Box Theatre in Bellarmine's Wyatt Center for the Arts, quickly finalizing a contract so the show could open at Bellarmine on Monday, June 18.
“As soon as I saw the horrible news about the fire at the Kentucky Center, I knew the directors of the plays going up at KCA this weekend were experiencing their worst nightmare," said Burnett. "Fortunately, I was able to offer our Black Box Theatre the next day."
She called it a team effort. "Many staff members at Bellarmine immediately came to my aid, and to the aid of this theatre company," she said. "A fire in a major performance venue in our city is devastating. When organizations such as Bellarmine University can reach out to support those directly impacted, it is a great feeling. I can’t do anything about the fire or the clean-up, but I can make our space available."
In a statement, Looking for Lilith officials said: "LFL is grateful to all Kentucky Center staff who have been supportive and helpful in negotiating how the production could continue. The Bellarmine University theatre program, where LFL has performed before, has been equally supportive and generous in helping LFL to continue its production, and LFL is profoundly grateful for their generosity and flexibility in accommodating 'We. Are Here.'"
The theatre company has been describing their tenacity to keep their production on stage by using the social media hashtags #WeAreHereAndNotGoingAnywhere and #TheShowMustGoOn.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Through the eyes of four families living four different but overlapping realities, "We. Are Here." explores the current political, social and economic turmoil in our nation. Issues of immigration, education, white privilege, institutional racism, gun control and more are brought into focus through oral histories and contemporary media articles in hopes of bridging differences.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit
lookingforlilith.org/2017-2018/wearehere/
View Bellarmine's
campus map and directions.
Performance schedule:
- June 18, 7:30 p.m.
- June 22, 7:30 p.m.
- June 23, 2 and 7:30 p.m.
- June 24, 5:30 p.m.
Following the June 23 evening performance, stay for a conversation with local panelists about "how to be an ally."
Ticket prices:
- $20 for general admission
- $15 for students/seniors/military
- $12 per person group rate of (10 or more people, with reservations required)
