AGAWAM – The Red Door Theatre in Feeding Hills is seeking donations from residents to raise money while they search for a new location.

Marilene Allen, the director and president of the theatre, told Reminder Publishing that they hope to find a new building for the theatre by the beginning of 2022.

Valley Hope Community Church, which owns the current building Red Door resides in, needs to take that building back because they require more space for their operations, according to Allen. The Red Door Theatre is allowed to stay inside this building until the end of 2021.

“I would love for the building to be in Agawam or Feeding Hills,” said Allen, with regard to finding a new location. “I’m looking for some property that’s been taken for back taxes, or something I can purchase.”

The theatre has been closed since the beginning of March, according to Allen. During this past year, Red Door has had to cut certain amenities to stay afloat, whether it be their Comcast, or portions of salary. “We’ve really cut ourselves down to the bare bones,” said Allen.

Their hope is that with resident donations, the theatre can put away funds for the desired new location. “We’re looking to create a new space for ourselves that’s a little bit bigger…that maybe we can use for a cultural arts center,” said Allen.

Allen said that the theatre wants to find a place that can house art, dance, and other types of performance. The goal is to bring people who are passionate about what they want to do, but perhaps do not have the wherewithal to make it into a full career.

Red Door also said goodbye to their longtime president and director Lyle Pearsons, who after 30 years at the theatre, decided to move on in life. Allen, meanwhile, will be taking a more administrative role when it comes to Red Door’s operations. Both her and Pearsons have been directing and producing together since 2007.

“Looking back I could never have imagined that a small community theatre would have had an impact as great as ours,” said Pearsons, in a letter to the public. “If anything I have done has played even a small part in their success, then my life truly has meaning.”

If all goes well, according to Allen, the theater could reopen sometime in the fall, which means a late 2021 show could be a possibility. She said that her guess is as good as anyone else’s though.

“I have my fingers crossed for maybe a fall or Christmas show,” said Allen. “But again, it’s really dependent on what the rules are.”

In the meantime, Allen and the theatre will continue to seek donations for their new location, and find any way to stay afloat. To donate to the theatre, visit their website, https://www.reddoortheatre.com.