Thank you for visiting the State Theatre Foundation Web Site. The restoration of the State Theatre in Culpeper, Virginia, will be the foundation of a cultural center for our entire region. The theatre and its expansion will compliment existing attractions for local residents as well as offer a unique tourist destination for visitors. The community's response to this project has been overwhelimingly positive, as the Foundation's mission and purpose will solve many needs facing Culpeper. Restoration and fundraising are ongoing, and the Board and staff of the State Theatre have done extensive research and planning in anticipation of the theatre's opening.



A Message From the Executive Director . . .

On behalf of the Board of Directors of your State Theatre Foundation, I am pleased to bring you up to date on the status of the State Theatre renovations and additions.

While driving down Main Street, it may appear that little progress has been made on our project, but nothing could be further from the truth.

While these are challenging economic times, the current economy has presented the Foundation with unexpected benefits in the form of lower material and labor costs. Preliminary estimates of construction have fallen from a high of $13.3 million to our current estimate of just under $10 million--a decrease of 25% with no reduction in the scope of the project. Our responsibility is to see that this community gets the most return for its invested dollar.

As with any construction project of this scope and nature (funded by pledges, grants and tax credits), some interim financing is required. Due to the current credit environment, the terms for this type of financing have changed dramatically. The Foundation is now required to have 100% funding in place prior to the start of construction.

The Foundation has raised $7 million in cash, pledges and tax credits to date and only needs $3 million to allow local financial institutions to underwrite the construction phase. It is the Board's goal to start construction within the next twelve months. With a projected construction period of eighteen months, actual performances could start as early as fall of 2011.

If you have any questions or need more information about the State Theatre project, please feel free to contact me at 540-727-7979 for an appointment.

We sincerely appreciate everything you have done to bring this project to this point and look forward to your continued support.

Sincerely,
Raven Yates
Executive Director


Contact the State Theatre Foundation:

311 South Main Street
P.O. Box 657
Culpeper, Va 22701