Raising the roof
As musical group Wingin' It, Heather Grimes, Dave Potvin, Pat Feldhusen and Pete Ammel perform on a stage in the Bonifas Arts Center parking lot for "Raise the Roof," a fundraiser for the continued restoration of the arts center theater. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
A cash bar was part of the "Raise the Roof" Bonifas Arts Center fundraiser on Friday evening. Musical performances by Wingin' It and Make Believe Spurs were the main attraction, while bean bag games offered sideline fun. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
As musical group Wingin' It, Heather Grimes, Dave Potvin, Pat Feldhusen and Pete Ammel perform on a stage in the Bonifas Arts Center parking lot for "Raise the Roof," a fundraiser for the continued restoration of the arts center theater. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
A cash bar was part of the "Raise the Roof" Bonifas Arts Center fundraiser on Friday evening. Musical performances by Wingin' It and Make Believe Spurs were the main attraction, while bean bag games offered sideline fun. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
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ESCANABA — Friday’s rain may have kept some people indoors, but the musical performances of “Raise the Roof,” a fundraiser for the William Bonifas Fine Arts Center, went on.
Local bands Wingin’ It and The Make-Believe Spurs played on a stage set up in the parking lot west of the arts center on Friday evening. Admission and donations collected went towards the continued restoration of the Bonifas theater, which was damaged by lightning in May of 2025.
While the exterior of the building has been repaired following the strike and subsequent fire, interior restoration and electrical work are still being done, said Mariah Lee, administrative assistant and rental coordinator for the Bonifas Arts Center.
The Bonifas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1974 to be a comprehensive arts organization dedicated to providing exhibits, education, performances, events, facilities and other arts-related activities for people of the Upper Peninsula.
The building at 700 First Ave. S. in Escanaba that serves as its home was initially built in 1938 as an auditorium and gymnasium for St. Joseph’s parish school. Its construction was sponsored by Catherine Bonifas, philanthropist who donated much of the fortune accumulated by her husband, lumber baron William Bonifas, back into the local community.
Though the 2025 fire caused little visible external damage, it destroyed lots of electrical equipment particularly valuable to the theater troupe that uses the space — Players de Noc, who has been conducting their performances at Bay College’s Besse Theater since the fire.
Donations may be made to Players de Noc at playersdenoc.org/donations and by mail to P.O. Box 45 in Escanaba.
People may continue to donate to the Bonifas by mailing checks to 700 First Ave. S. or by visiting bonifasarts.org.