LCRA awards $1,068 grant to Hamilton Civic Theatre

 

Stage lighting upgrades will improve performance quality and enhance energy efficiency

May 13, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • LCRA awards a $1,068 grant to Hamilton Civic Theatre to upgrade its stage lighting.
  • The new LED lighting will replace outdated fixtures with energy-efficient equipment.
  • The grant is one of 41 being awarded through LCRA’s Community Grants program through June. LCRA will accept applications in July for the next round of grants.

LCRA representatives present a $1,068 grant to the Hamilton Civic Theatre for new stage lighting. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Laura Bristle, Theatre board member; Carol Freeman, LCRA Board member; Susan Snyder, Theatre secretary; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Carolyn Poole, Theatre board member; Mike Ceresini, Theatre president; Cathy Kolodziej and Kymbirlee Jeschke, Theatre board members; and John Palacio, LCRA Regional Affairs representative.

HAMILTON, Texas – Hamilton Civic Theatre soon will upgrade its stage lighting system, thanks to a $1,068 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The LCRA Community Grant will help replace the theater’s existing lights with modern, energy-efficient LED lighting. The new equipment will improve lighting reliability, reduce energy use and help create a safer, more professional experience for performers, volunteers and audiences.

“We’re a hometown theater run entirely by volunteers, and there are people who spend more hours at the theater than they do at home or at work some weeks,” said Michael Ceresini, president of the Hamilton Civic Theatre Board. “There’s a lot that goes into keeping a theater going that people don’t always see, and this grant helps us make an important upgrade without pulling from the funds we use to keep shows on stage.”

For more than 40 years, Hamilton Civic Theatre has brought live performing arts to Hamilton County and surrounding rural communities. The nonprofit produces four plays each year, totaling 16 live performances.

Hamilton Civic Theatre also supports youth development and arts education. For many local students, the theater provides early experience in public speaking and live performances while helping build confidence, communication skills, teamwork and stage experience.

Ceresini thanked fellow Hamilton Civic Theatre board members Kymbirlee Jeschke and Susan Snyder for helping lead the grant application process.

“The community really supports the theater, and people get excited when a new show is coming up,” Ceresini said. “It’s a place where people can come together, whether they’re on stage, backstage or in the audience. We appreciate LCRA recognizing the value of that and helping us make improvements that will benefit the whole community.”

This is one of 41 grants awarded recently through LCRA Community Grants. These grants are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA’s effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at www.lcra.org/grants.

Contact Info

Clara Tuma
512-578-3292
[email protected]
After hours: 512-944-6719

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves communities across Texas by managing the lower Colorado River, generating and transmitting wholesale electric power, providing clean water supplies, operating telecommunications infrastructure, and owning parks for outdoor recreation. LCRA delivers power, water and infrastructure that support the region’s growth and quality of life. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1934, LCRA receives no state appropriations.