Raise The Curtain
for OLT!
For 59 years, Old Library Theatre (OLT) has been a vibrant part of Northern New Jersey’s rich performing arts culture. We were closely tied to the Borough of Fair Lawn from day one in 1967 and looked forward to continuing that relationship on into the coming decades.
Then, in January 2025, the Borough of Fair Lawn abruptly informed us that OLT would no longer be recognized as its resident theater company. The change came with many immediate issues- not the least of which, a 275% increase in rental fees. When coupled with our usual budgeted overhead for production expenses, it was clear our current operating model was no longer sustainable.
Now, after a 6 month pause, we are ready to move forward and be back on stage — but we need your help.
How Your Donation Will
Be Critical to Our Return
Finalize Our Independant Nonprofit Status
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As an 501(c)(3) we:
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Must secure liability insurance on a show-by-show basis. This is absolutely critical to ensure our productions run professionally, smoothly, and above all else, SAFELY.
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Compensate the legal team helping us file the necessary paperwork with the IRS. This has been our most immediate expense and has truly consumed the bulk of our time away from the stage.
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Storage &
A New "Home Base"
Another major blow to OLT was the loss of on-site storage for our sets, props, costumes, and box office facilities.
We are extremely grateful to our friends around the North Jersey Community Theater community who have reached out to provide "temporary homes" for some of our most cherished items, but a longterm administrative situation is critical to our survival.
Maintaining Production Value
Your support fuels the creative engine behind every show — enabling us to build sets, design costumes, light the stage, and hire talented directors, designers, and musicians.
Additionally, as our casts now work entirely off site until tech week, renting rehearsal space is our new reality. The generosity of our extended community during our first few months as an independent entity has been tremendous, but moving forward, we need to be able to fairly compensate the groups that have been sharing their space.
Building Our 2026 Season... and Beyond!
As we turn the page and launch Season 59, we are 100% committed to continuing our proud legacy as Old Library Theatre. We look forward to building NEW connections at new venues in new communities, but this will also come with some start-up expenses:
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Show rights - Every production you have seen at OLT came with a pricetag long before a word was spoken or a note was sung. We must pay the rights holders for each show we produce.
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Venue Rental - We are now an "on the road" group that needs to negotiate rental costs for each individual show we commit to producting.
You know the old addage: "The show must go on!!" — and it will. With your support, we’ll continue bringing powerful stories to the stage, created by and for our community, with the care, creativity, and connection that make OLT special.
As we look ahead, we’re not just making emergency survival plans — we’re redefining what OLT stands for and rebuilding a community.
We can’t wait to show you what’s next!