Senator Lewis and Representative Day Secure $100,000 for Greater Boston Stage Company for COVID Safety Upgrades

State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representative Michael Day are pleased to announce that they successfully secured a $100,000 appropriation for the Greater Boston Stage Company, as a part of the COVID pandemic recovery bill recently passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Baker.

The funds will be used by the Greater Boston Stage Company, a non-profit regional theatre located in Stoneham, to make COVID health and safety facility improvements and upgrades.

“The Greater Boston Stage Company is an integral part of our local arts and culture scene and this funding will help ensure that they can continue safely welcoming audiences,” said Senator Jason Lewis. “The pandemic has had a particularly devastating impact on our cultural institutions, which are such an important part of our local economy and thriving communities.”

“The Greater Boston Stage Company isn’t just an economic anchor for the Stoneham downtown, it’s a cultural asset for the entire region,” said Representative Michael Day. “Ensuring that our cultural institutions have the financial support they need to recover and adapt after over a year of restrictions and darkened stages is a priority and I am glad to have partnered with Senator Lewis to secure these funds.”

“Greater Boston Stage Company is thankful for the advocacy of our state delegation in securing this recovery funding,” said Heather Mell, Development Director at GBSC. “These funds will make it possible for the theatre to cover the added costs we have incurred due to new COVID health and safety protocols and will allow us to make vital updates to our facility to support greater accessibility for our artists, patrons, and community.”

The bill, known as An Act relative to immediate COVID-19 recovery needs, uses federal monies received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) as well as the state’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget surplus.