Help us build our Theater!

Some stories have never been given the spotlight they deserve. Some voices have too often been overlooked, underestimated, or unheard. Yet it is those voices and stories that have the power to connect us, challenge us, inspire us, and help us better understand one another.

At Evolution Theatre Company and Open Door Stage & Screen, we believe every person deserves the opportunity to be seen, heard, and valued. For years, Open Door Stage & Screen has empowered artists with disabilities to discover their creative voices through performance, storytelling, and self-expression. Evolution Theatre Company has championed bold theatrical experiences that celebrate diverse perspectives, amplify LGBTQ+ voices, and foster understanding through the power of live performance.

Though our paths began from different places, we share a common belief: theatre has the power to transform lives, strengthen communities, and create a sense of belonging. Together, we can now create something lasting.

Through the transformation of an underutilized warehouse space at Open Door Columbus, we will establish a permanent home for inclusive theatre in Central Ohio—a place where artists of all abilities, identities, and backgrounds can learn, create, perform, and belong. This new black box theater will serve as the home of Open Door Stage & Screen and Evolution Theatre Company, providing a dedicated space for rehearsals, classes, performances, artistic collaboration, and community engagement. It will be a place where emerging artists and professional performers create side by side, where audiences encounter new perspectives, and where stories that have too often been left outside the spotlight are welcomed to center stage. More than a performance venue, this theater will be a place where creativity builds confidence, differences are celebrated, community is strengthened, and everyone belongs.

This campaign is about more than constructing a theater.

It is about creating opportunities.

It is about expanding representation.

It is about ensuring every person has the chance to share their voice, tell their story,

and experience the power of being truly seen.

Together, we can create a permanent home where creativity flourishes, barriers are broken, and every voice matters. I would be happy to meet with you to discuss further the possibilities and purpose of this extraordinary undertaking.

Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and for believing in a future where every story has a place, and every voice is heard.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Mark Phillips Schwamberger, Executive / Artistic Director, Evolution Theatre Company

If you would like to meet for coffee or lunch to discuss Evolution Theatre Company and our commitment to EVERY VOICE, EVERY STORY  please let me know, mpschwamberger@aol.com.

Let's continue to make magic together, ensuring that our stage remains a place where everyone can find their reflection and share in the collective human experience.

All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.