Despite a weekend fire that damaged All An Act Theatre and the Community Shelter Services building, the show will go on and the emergency shelter remains open.
"All An Act is going to continue forward and be up and running as soon as humanly possible. In the meantime, please watch for our upcoming events and fundraisers to help us get through until then," Artistic Director David W. Mitchell and Managing Director Larry Lewis wrote Monday on All An Act's Facebook page .
The theater, 652 W. 17th St., is located on the first floor of the four-story building owned by Community Shelter Services, 655 W. 16th St. An emergency shelter is also located on the first floor of the former school that also houses CSS offices and apartments.
"Thank God, nobody was injured," Mitchell said Tuesday.
While residents were evacuated, they were able to return to the building.
"There has been extensive damage," CSS Executive Director Diane Lazette said Tuesday. "We've started the cleaning."
What happened?
The fire originated in the theater, Mitchell and Lazette said. While the cause hadn't been determined as of Tuesday morning, it was believed to be electrical, they said. It was discovered by Community Shelter Services' staff Saturday around 1 a.m.
Lazette said 120 residents waited on buses until they could re-enter the building at about 4 a.m. that day.
The theater's auditorium, which underwent renovations in 2022 including new carpeting and a new stage floor, suffered fire, smoke, heat and water damage while the inside of the rest of the building is covered in soot and has a strong odor, Mitchell and Lazette said.
"We're going to be closed for months," Mitchell said.
How to help
Lazette said Community Shelter Services could use monetary donations now to help with cleaning costs and replacing food that had to be thrown out. Eventually they'll be asking for donations of pillows, bedding, paper products, toys and more but don't want to start collecting those until the building has been cleaned and no longer smells from the fire, she said.
She said to watch the agency's website at communityshelter.org for updates on its needs.
All An Act has been a longtime supporter of Community Shelter Services, donating $1 of every admission, for a total of more than $80,000 so far, Mitchell said.
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He said All An Act is not a nonprofit, but rather a small business that survives on ticket sales, so it is reaching out to the community for help with operating expenses and replacing or cleaning upholstery, carpet, costumes and more.
He said the theater started a fire recovery fundraising effort on GoFundMe .
Mitchell said people could also help by buying tickets to All An Act's May show.
The show will go on
All An Act performances of "Charley's Aunt" will go on in May at The Station Dinner Theatre , 4940 Peach St. Mitchell said he is contacting people with reservations to discuss keeping their tickets or getting a refund.
He and Lewis said the Performing Artists Collective Alliance has offered use of their space on State Street in July.
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"We are so grateful for the support of Paul & Rae Jean Urbanowicz and Mark Tannenbaum and Lisa Simonian for their loving efforts," Lewis and Mitchell said on Facebook.
Mitchell said the fire won't stop All An Act.
"The pandemic didn't slow us down. We're not going to let this," he said.
Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com .
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Fire damages Erie's All An Act Theatre, Community Shelter Services building. What we know
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