Epidemic Theatre Needs Your Votes and Smyrna Can Help!

Epidemic Theatre, (Smyrna's only true community theatre) needs your help! We've been entered into a contest sponsored by Living Social and Chase Bank for an opportunity to win a $250,000 grant. It’s part of their “Mission Small Business” promotion. 

How it works: Once your business is registered you have to have 250 people vote for you to even be entered. Right now we are woefully short of votes with only 65 or so. The contest deadline is in 5 days (June 30). So, as you can see, we need the support from the community in a big way. This is a way for you to make a difference.

If we do collect the required 250 votes that still doesn't guarantee we will win but it increases our chances. They have to go through a selection process to pick the final winners. If we don't get the votes then we have zero chance of being eligible to win the grant. 

With us being a non-profit, all volunteer company, we do believe our chances are as good, if not better, than many of the for-profit businesses entered. We benefit our community and our city rather that someone’s pocket. Our payment is in the joy we bring to our residents through the performing arts. We believe in the City of Smyrna and we want you to believe in us!

So, how do you vote? To vote for us you must log into: www.missionsmallbusiness.com. On the right side of the page it says "Log In With Facebook and Support Your Community". Once you press the button it takes them to another page that has a search box at the bottom. You must type in "Epidemic Theatre". It has options for state and city but we are the only business under the name Epidemic so it will take you right to us. Once you do that it will pop up a new page with our info. Then you just have to click on the button that says "support" and your vote is cast! Each person can only vote once so remember to tell everyone you know to vote. 

So the last question is “What will you do with the money if you win”? If we win, it will be life changing for our group and a windfall for Smyrna. As I’m sure most are aware we have no performing arts venue in the city. We would finally be able to find a permanent home and performance and rehearsal/teaching space. We still haven't found a reasonably priced space that we can yet afford. 

We would also be able to not only produce our seasons (several years worth of musicals and plays) but it would furnish all the equipment to operate (which we currently borrow). Sound and lighting equipment isn't cheap and can cost several thousands of dollars. 

Finally, we would be able to give back to the community through teaching, summer camps, and workshops for kids and adults. This belief in giving back to the community is what makes us unique to many community theatres. I know residents would love to have a facility in their city that their children can learn dance, drama, and music. We have great plans but we need help to make it happen! With election madness all around us, step up and cast a vote that really counts, your community! 

To learn more information or to get involved with our group log on to www.epidemictheatre.org and sign up to be volunteer, send us an email, or like us on FaceBook. We will have show information coming soon about our Fall Schedule including our radio plays at the Smyrna Public Library and our up-coming musical, “Big Show, Small Box”.