McCook Arts Council donation helps make sure the show goes on

Chris Labey, Kathy Latta and Riliegh Carson perform in SWNCTA’s “Freaky Friday.”

Courtesy photo

McCOOK, Neb. — When it comes to the theater, there are many necessary components: acting, lighting, sets, props and perhaps the least noticed - sound.

Yet, the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association has been using the same sound equipment, including microphones for its actors for years. Some of the headpieces are decades old, likely older than some of the thespians on stage during the local theatrical performances.

With at least two productions each year, SWNCTA’s sound equipment sees a lot of use. In turn, the microphones and headsets eventually start to lose sound quality. So SWNCTA worked with the McCook Arts Council to raise the funds to help replace some of the dozens of microphones needed for the local productions.

The upgrade in equipment happened in part because of a matching grant from MAC, which provided $2 for every $1 raised by SWNCTA towards new sound equipment. The SWNCTA board received donations from nearly three dozen local merchants and individuals to meet the goal, as well as meeting an internal challenge grant to the SWNCTA board for the remaining funds.

In the end, SWNCTA actually passed their goal, raising $5,000. When combined with the $8,000 from the McCook Arts Council, $13,000 was available for new sound equipment and other expenses.

Thanks to the matching grant from the McCook Arts Council, SWNCTA’s productions will feature new microphones and sound equipment, improving sound quality for years to come.

The McCook Arts Council is a 501(c)3 and receives funding from the McCook Community Foundation Fund, the Graff Charitable Foundation and from generous local donors during the Big Give and throughout the year.