Taproot Theatre Company is seeking donations after two of the theater’s three air-conditioning units were vandalized and stripped for copper.
According to information posted on Taproot’s donation page, the damage was discovered earlier this spring after warmer weather caused the theater to become unusually hot following performances of “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” Taproot said an HVAC specialist initially inspected the building’s thermostats, filters, and blowers, but the damage was not discovered until an employee inspected the rooftop units directly.
Taproot said two of the three AC units were “completely destroyed,” with an estimated $40 worth of copper stolen.
The theater says the incident has created broader concerns about its aging HVAC infrastructure. According to Taproot, the current system is nearly 30 years old, and the long-term solution will likely require replacing the entire HVAC system with a modern, code-compliant installation.
The organization says it is aiming to raise $400,000 by June 1 through grants and individual donations to help fund repairs and support theater operations during the disruption.
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, Taproot said it had raised just over $230,000.
Taproot said its insurance adjuster toured the building on May 6, but it remains unclear whether the organization’s insurance policy will cover the vandalism and theft.
The theater said the fundraising deadline is tied to upcoming summer programming, including Acting Studio camps scheduled to begin in late June and the July 10 opening of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
Photo: Taproot