Branson Regional Arts Council Achieves Goal Of Purchasing Historic Owen Theatre

Dear friends of the Arts…

The Branson Regional Arts Council is excited to announce that we have officially purchased the Historic Owen Theatre in downtown Branson!

Over the past 5 years, we have been leasing the Historic Owen Theatre with a purchase option. We are excited to announce that we were able to exercise that option and obtain a mortgage which makes the Arts Council official owners of the venue, allowing us to continue providing community arts education opportunities for generations to come, as well as preserve the legacy and rich history of Jim Owen.

On December 28, 2022 with the assistance of a mortgage through Branson Bank, the Arts Council has achieved one of our short term goals of establishing a permanent community arts center under our direction that will be available to all residents, young and old, for generations to come.

It was the wish of the late Jean Cantwell, founder of both the Branson Arts Council and Tri-Lakes Community Theatre, to establish a permanent theatre venue strictly dedicated to the performing arts and community theatre. Our move into this facility in 2017 provided the opportunity to do just that.

In 2022 the BRAC presented 10 major events that provided a variety of arts opportunities with 245 acting roles, 157 tech crew jobs, 140 volunteer positions, and 30 featured visual artists!

BRAC continues to develop outstanding youth theatre education programs (Staccato Show Choir and Crescendo Performance Troupe) in addition to our Special Abilities programs. Our main stage community theatre productions provided high-quality entertainment to over 8,000 patrons (6,261 adult and 1,772 youth) last year.

We wish to thank Ronnie and Diane Mathes, the previous long-time owners of the Owen Theatre for believing in our vision. We also thank Branson Bank, our attorney Harry Styron, our past and current BRAC Board of Directors, our volunteers, generous donors and patrons, our talented actors, directors, technical crew, and our teachers, students and supportive parents who have been integral in the development of our youth arts education program.

We will still be working extra hard to pay off the balance of our mortgage, but we are excited for the many new opportunities that this purchase will provide to our community!

– Jim Barber, BRAC Executive Director

Related Article: Branson Regional Arts Council To Purchase Historic Owen Theatre (Aug 18, 2017)

Branson Regional Arts Council

The Branson Regional Arts Council was founded in 1965 as the “Taney Arts Council,” and officially established 501 (c)(3) non-profit status as “Branson Arts Council, Inc.” in 1993.

Our mission is “to create exceptional artistic, cultural and educational opportunities for our community.”

Financial support  is provided by BRAC members, theatre patrons, private donors, as well as additional grant support from  the Missouri Arts Council and other organizations.

BRAC, PO Box 2004, Branson, MO 65615