The Benton Harbor-based GhostLight Theatre received a $100,000 challenge pledge to match gifts benefitting the 2025 theatre season.
The donor has agreed to match amounts raised up to $50,000.
The GhostLight received a second anonymous donation to name the annual Emerging Artist Award after theatre friend and patron Bud Shuler.
On. Nov. 10, Paige Mulick received the Bud Shuler Emerging Artist Award along with a gift of $1,000. In 2024, Mulick choreographed “Bright Star,” “The Rocky Horror Show – The Musical” and “She Kills Monsters.” She also starred in “Pippin” and “The Rocky Horror Show – The Musical.”
“We are incredibly delighted that our donors and patrons continue to step up in major ways towards funding our efforts here in both the Benton Harbor and Southwest Michigan communities,” said Paul Mow, GhostLight Theatre general manager and artistic director, in a press release.
Mow said the theatre is continuting to add educational components to its programming such as CircEsteem and a young adult training program. The programs offer performers and designers opportunities to learn how performing arts can enrich their lives and communities.
“As we turn the page on our first five years and begin to explore possibilities of expansion, gifts like these will continue to enliven our own efforts as well as add energy throughout the entire arts district to keep the performing arts alive and well into the next decade,” Mow said.
The GhostLight Theatre’s 2025 season will include seven shows. The season will begin in February with the Tony-Award winning play “Clyde’s.” Other shows include “The Last 5,” “RENT,” “The Wolves,” “CHESS,” “The Rocky Horror Show – The Musical” and “The Thanksgiving Play.”
The GhostLight Theatre is a collaboration of local performing artists, business people, arts supporters and audience members. Founded by Paul Mow and Marty Hesse, the theatre opened its doors in 2019. The GhostLight Theatre is located in the Benton Harbor Arts District.
