Smashing the Goal on Next Act Theatre’s Next Big Thing Campaign
By Tawnie Thompson, Development Manager
Next Act is incredibly excited to announce that we have surpassed the goal of our $50,000 Next Big Thing Matching Campaign! With your help and generosity, it took us only 14 weeks to reach 106 percent of our goal, more than $52,000 raised! That’s just over half the original length of the campaign.
Beating this goal unlocked a matching gift from long-time patrons Val and Gary Zamecnik, whose $50,000 contribution will be used to renovate Next Act Theatre’s rehearsal hall, including a new floor and a new ceiling lighting grid. The rehearsal hall is used by Next Act Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks and outside organizations for rehearsals, classes, workshops, meetings and even performances, and these updates will improve outcomes for artists, students and patrons. The rehearsal hall will be renamed The Val and Gary Zamecnik Studio following this renovation. Their funds will also support the acquisition of a new lighting board for Next Act Theatre, among other equipment improvements. Meanwhile, funds raised by our many generous donors will support our upcoming productions of BOSWELL, SWING STATE and DINNER WITH THE DUCHESS, ensuring our ability to provide you with entertaining and thought-provoking theatre for the rest of the season.
Thanks to the Generous Support of our Next Big Thing Donors
(Updated October 31, 2025)
George Affeldt
James and Terri Alioto
Paul and June Ambro
Curt and Joan Anderson
Marcia Anderson
David and Patricia Anderson
Anonymous (7)
Jayne Ayers
Bob Balderson
Janet Bashirian
Michael and Susie Bauer
Katie Bayliss and Thomas Mann
Jerrold Belland
Rick Bingen
Daniel and Janet Brophey
Joy Brubaker
Mary Buchel
Dan and Rebecca Burzynski
Michael and Ericka Burzynski
Mr. Robert Canary
Tom and Mary Belle Chatton
Flora Coker
Miriam Colton and Holly Rehberg
Karen Connell
Pat and Phil Crump
Michael Houle and Thomas Darrow
Margaret Dethloff and Terri Zeh
Judges John and Jean DiMotto
Carol Z. Dolphin
Mr. Shawn Duffy
Ms. Jennie Ehrmann
David Ferrie
Susan Foley
Helen and Bert Forster
James Gingery
David Glenn
Irv and Reesa Gottschalk
Elizabeth Green
Duane Haas
Gloria and Paul Halverson
Jami and Joe Hanreddy
Charles Hays
Melissa Honigman
Barb and Don Horack
Courtney Ingram
Kristine Jensen
Mary Kay Jiricka
BJ and Candace Jones
Jack Kastelic
Noreen and Gary Killian
Lilane Koehn Mace
Caleb Kopp
Mr. Konrad Kuchenbach
Marilyn Kupka
Dane and Dana LaFontsee
Cecile and Russ Langford
Barbara and Dale Lenz
Ronald Leonhardt
Jennifer Lewis
Gordon and Alicia Lugauer
Kurt and Kristi Magoon
Jane Barclay Mandel and Paul Mandel
Julie McHale
Chuck and Cindy Meyer
Joyce and Joan Mielke
Charles and Barbara Murphy
Ms. Lois Mytas
Kathrine and Paul Noran
Katja Phillabaum
Al and Carol Pohl
Nate Press
Dorotheann Rauch
Marianne and Matthew Robbins
Mary Ruffolo and Ben Litwin
L. Susan Stewart
Jane Svinicki
Barbara Tays
Diane Thomas
Julia and David Uihlein
Ms. Marie Weiss
Dawn Wenszell
Janet Wetselaar
Sandra Whitehead
James Pickering and Tami Workentin