By Taylor Hale

PORTAGE COUNTY – The Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater (cwACT) soft-launched its 2021 capital campaign this month to help fund roofing, flooring, and HVAC issues at their rehearsal space located on Minnesota Avenue in Stevens Point.

But cwACT Treasurer John Omernik didn’t expect Kathy Kinney, of the “The Drew Carey Show” to send a personal video of support and $5,000 to aid the local theater’s $50,000 goal.

The donation and video were made on Feb. 17, and Omernik said it helped the cwACT team jump start their funding campaign. Kinney’s donation was matched by a private company, and the theater also received $9,300 from a Wisconsin cultural grant.

“I spoke with Mayor Mike Wiza about ways to help spread awareness for the theater’s capital campaign,” Omernik explained. “I didn’t expect Kathy to make a video talking about what the arts meant to her like she did.”

Kinney is a former point native currently living in Los Angeles. But her hometown pride has never faded.

“I was born and raised in Stevens Point, and that’s where my love of theater began,” Kinney said in her video. “As a goofy, gawky, pre-teen going to Ben Franklin Jr. High, I worked on the stage crew for Fiddler on the roof, and I made friends that I still have to this day. It gave me a place to go and a sense of belonging.”

Omernik said that the theater also has a stretch goal of $75,000, which the group would use to create a second rehearsal space and continue needed renovations.

Staff at cwACT plan to push their capital campaign more heavily in the coming summer months, offering information at upcoming live shows. Currently, the staff is planning an August production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” set to be held at the outdoor Schmeeckle Reserve amphitheater.

“We are hoping that the outdoor venue facilitates it safely, “Omernik explained. “That’s our first goal of the summer season.”

The Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater will be airing their virtual performance of “Do you Read Me?” via their YouTube channel March 19-21.

Staff will roll out more information on their capital campaign later this year. To donate now, visit cwact.org/donate.