Magik Theatre San Antonio Receives $100,000 Grant from Nancy Smith Hurd Foundation

 

The Magik Theatre has received a $100,000 grant from The Nancy Smith Hurd Foundation to make needed repairs and upgrades to its stage at Beethoven Hall in historic Hemisfair.

 

“These improvements to our stage are very important,” says Magik’s CEO, Frank Villani. “When Magik started to expand its programming to serve patrons with special needs, we quickly realized that our facilities were unaccommodating for these new clients and those with mobility issues. Basically, Magik operates in a theatre that was built for able-bodied men in 1893, and as Magik looks to the future, we want to make sure our venue is accessible and welcoming to everyone.”

 

In 2015, The Magik Theatre began offering sensory-friendly shows for children on the autism spectrum and with other sensory sensitivities. Magik also provides an American Sign Language interpreter for each production.

 

This grant from The Nancy Smith Hurd Foundation is part of a larger campaign to improve and upgrade The Magik Theatre’s facilities. In November of 2017, Magik received a $100,000 from Impact San Antonio to improve the bathrooms and add a cover to its outdoor handicap ramp. With a grant from the Pryor Trust, Magik has purchased and installed new audio and lighting equipment that improves the overall quality of each production and offers the ability to better adapt productions for those patrons with sensory sensitivities. The gift from the Hurd Foundation helps Magik purchase a wheelchair lift, repair the stage, and purchase equipment to improve their ability to adapt each production for patrons with special needs as well as enhance the experience for the 130,000 children who visit Magik each year.      

 

“But we still have so much more to do,” says Frank.  “We need to create a better seating area for our patrons using a wheelchair. Right now, they sit on an incline and are in danger of rolling away. Our chairs are from the 1960s and need replacing.” To make these changes Magik is still applying to long-time supporters and new donors for their help.

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About The Magik Theatre: The Magik Theatre is San Antonio's professional family theatre. Founded in 1994, the theatre has presented more than 160 main stage and touring productions to over 2 million children and their families. The Magik Theatre's mission is to nurture young people's growth and education by providing extraordinary and accessible theatre experiences based on great literature. The Magik Theatre enhances the lives of children with disabilities and at-risk youth through its community accessibility, education, and outreach programs. The Magik Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, visit MagikTheatre.org.