Fresh off celebrating its fifth anniversary, The GhostLight Theatre now owns its namesake building and the land underneath free and clear.
According to Paul Mow, General Manager at GhostLight, the theatre in the Benton Harbor Arts District received a gift from neighborhood advocate, developer, and philanthropist Ken Ankli, in the form of loan forgiveness for the amount owed on the property — a total of $28,800.
“Ken’s friendship and amazing generosity through the years has made so much of what we do possible. This gift of loan forgiveness strengthens The GhostLight’s financial position at a critical time in our history. The board and I are enormously thankful,” said Mow.
“Ken’s commitment to both The GhostLight Theatre and the entire Benton Harbor Arts District has been extraordinary since day one. We are grateful to benefit from his vision and generosity,” said GhostLight Board of Directors co-chair, Jim Vondale.
Speaking about what the GhostLight has brought to the neighborhood, Ankli said it has added greatly to the character of the district.
“You can feel the vitality of the neighborhood coming to life. Repurposing old buildings, wherever they are, is romantic and mysterious. Exciting and inspiring. The Benton Harbor Arts District is all of those,” said Ankli.
The announcement from The GhostLight Theatre (below) outlined additional context around the gift. More information about The GhostLight Theatre and current productions can be found at https://www.ghostlightbh.com.
—
Ankli is a fifth-generation resident of Southwest Michigan. His connection to the Arts District neighborhood dates to 1972 while working after school for his father at Benton Harbor’s Brammall Supply, 196 Water Street. After assuming ownership of the firm in 1992, Ken watched from the sidelines as the neighborhood slowly embraced its new identity as an emerging Arts District. Inspired by a comprehensive streetscape and infrastructure makeover, he sensed an opportunity to further the development of the District by repurposing a portion of his warehouse into high-end loft apartments.
In 2018, Mr. Ankli sold the then-vacant industrial building at 101 Hinkley Street to The GhostLight Theatre at a favorable price, providing the fledgling theatre its home. GhostLight’s doors opened in 2019 to an exciting inaugural season packed with moving performances, community meetings, fundraisers, and talkbacks. GhostLight also hosts CircEsteem, a Chicago-based kid’s summer program that helps build self-esteem and respect through learning circus-themed arts. In its first year, The GhostLight Theatre was honored to receive the Golden Acorn Award for Arts and Innovation from the Berrien Community Foundation. Now with five entertaining and inspiring seasons under its belt, The GhostLight Theatre celebrated its fifth anniversary with a gala retrospective performance on August 3, 2024.
Jeff Dunlap from the GhostLight Board of Directors thanks Ken Ankli and all the generous donors, sponsors, volunteers, and audience members who have added to the theatre’s success over the last five years: “A non-profit organization like The GhostLight Theatre maintains a very delicate funding balance. Paul and our talented community of actors, musicians, designers and crew can only provide a high level of performance and production if our audience and community members continue to come through for us. We thank Ken and the many others who so generously and consistently support our work.”
