Sunrise Theatre receives Shuttered

Venue Operators Grant

National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) member Sunrise Theatre just received an approval notice from the Small Business Administration (SBA) stating that its Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) application has been approved. This emergency relief, outlined in the $16 billion Save Our Stages Act as part of the COVID-19 Relief Bill signed into law Dec. 27, 2020, will provide the Sunrise Theatre with $1,096,000 in funds to enable it to return to doing what it’s known for: putting on shows, welcoming artists and fans, and bringing vibrancy, jobs, and visitors to the historic downtown Fort Pierce. The Sunrise Theatre thanks our local Florida legislative delegation who co-sponsored the SOS Act, which will indeed Save Our Stages!

“The situation was dire,” said Sharon Engle, Director of the Sunrise Theatre. “Like independent venues, promoters and festivals across the country, we were the first to close, had no revenue but we were overwhelmed with all of our usual overhead. Without this emergency relief, small business like ours would be shutting forever.” We owe enormous gratitude to those who spearheaded the funding legislation: Senators Amy Klobuchar and John Cornyn, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Representatives Roger Williams and Peter Welch, who led the charge to ensure that we will reopen, rehire, and return as the economic engines for our communities across the nation,” said Engle. “Together with 230 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and Senate, our Congressional champions, made it possible for us to once again be the magnet for commerce and renewal in our neighborhoods and bring back the joy and diversion we’ve all missed so much.”

The beautifully restored, intimate 1,200-seat Sunrise Theatre Mainstage and accompanying 210 seat Black Box Theatre, located in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce, presents national touring Broadway shows, musical and comedy acts, ballet and opera companies with full orchestras.