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Downtown Little Rock businesses fight for The Rep

The theatre has a goal of $750,000 in order to resume operations.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – Businesses in downtown Little Rock are stepping up to help The Rep Theatre after it announced it is suspending operations.

The theatre, known for its popular attractions, has been an anchor to Main Street for over 40 years. Leaders are suspending operations while they work to raise over $750,000 that would insure financial stability if the theatre returns.

"The Rep is our neighbor. They're right across the street. They are an institution to the city. This is very sad,” Erin Anson Ellis said.

Ballet Arkansas has been performing shows for 40 years. For the past five seasons, dancers have graced the stage at the Rep.

"They have been a beacon of the art community,” Catherine Fothergill said.

Erin Anson Ellis and Cather Fothergill with Ballet Arkansas say it’s been harder to attract a young audience, resulting in the Rep possibly closing down.

"It's really important to let the next generation know how important these arts are to enrichen your community,” Ellis said.

Ellis said Ballet Arkansas always enjoyed putting on shows at the theatre.

"Really the only thing that can happen right now is for people to get out their checkbooks and give,” she said.

Three Fold Noodles is two doors down from the Rep, and manager Rebecca Yan said the owners felt the need the help the theatre out.

"The ownership decided to donate a check donation to The Rep,” Yan said. “The arts is important. It should be important to all our lives."

Yan said the restaurant will be paring up with the theatre to help them reach their $750,000 goal.

"We are working on a few programs we can collaborate on here in the summer in the next few months with the restaurant and theatre that will help them financially,” Yan said.

Yan hopes this donation will help the Rep stick around.

"I hope that it would encourage others to come together and support the theatre that should be here forever,” Yan said.

The Rep is still going forward with planned events in the coming weeks.

The Artworks event will still on this weekend along with Ballet Arkansas and Concert May 4-6.

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