A year ago, it was the opening night of a new play at The Umbrella. It was also in the middle of the first season of its new performing arts wing. And it was also entrenched in a $20 million capital campaign and expansion program and had just created new classrooms and a new Maker Space.
Things were alive and vibrant at the Concord-based arts center – until COVID shut everything down, forcing The Umbrella to pivot its business model.
“We were one of the early organizations to have a virtual gala,” said Marketing & Strategic Communications Director Stewart Ikeda. “We ended up having a special gala, Stand By Me, which featured many past performers and it was entirely done on Zoom. It wound up being the most successful fundraiser we’ve ever had.”
Now, with certain pandemic restrictions being lifted, Ikeda is gearing up for a rebound year.
Beginning on Earth Day (April 24) and…
