After theft, Taproot Theatre's summer saved by $400K in donations

Seattle's Taproot Theatre will move forward with its summer program after raising enough money to repair air-conditioning units that were stripped for copper and destroyed.

In late April, the nonprofit started a fundraising campaign after two of its three air conditioners were trashed. On Monday, the group announced that it had exceeded its fundraising goal of $400,000.

We have been so deeply moved by the outpouring of support from our community, friends, and neighbors in response to this unexpected and costly need," Producing Artistic Director Karen Lund said in a news release. "Thanks to this incredible generosity, we won't miss a beat - the funds were raised, the HVAC is repaired, and we are profoundly grateful for the love and care that carried us through this moment."

With the new units bought and installed, the theater said it is confident to proceed with a summer schedule that includes a production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat that opens July 10.

The theater has also installed cages around the new rooftop AC units to deter tampering.

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