Ravaged Venice Theatre Focus Of Teen's Lemonade Stand Fundraiser

OSPREY, FL — Delaney Lockwood was devastated when she first learned that Hurricane Ian destroyed the Venice Theatre’s main stage, the powerful winds tearing its roof clear off.

The theater was an important space for the 13-year-old Osprey girl, as it had become a creative outlet for her in recent years.

“When my friend sent me the picture during the storm, my heart sank and I started to cry,” she told Patch.

She quickly switched gears, though, and began thinking about how she might be able to play a role — even a small one — in rebuilding the venue.

• Also Read: Venice Theatre Ravaged By Hurricane Ian, All Events Suspended

Delaney organized a lemonade stand in her neighborhood on Oct. 7, selling drinks and snacks to residents and those passing by. She raised $705 for the theater in just a few hours.

“Basically, I wanted to help because I knew that they were going to have to rebuild and that a donation would be the best way to help right now, but I don’t have a lot of money to give and other people may not too,” the teen said. “So, I figured if a lot of people gave a little, then it would come to something bigger, and people may not donate a little on their own but would to a lemonade stand.”

She was moved by people’s giving spirits following the hurricane. Delaney said that many people donated money to the cause without taking anything from her stand. And as she ran out of snacks, her neighbors helped replenish them.

• Stay up-to-date by viewing all Hurricane Ian coverage on Patch here.

She began working with Venice Theatre in 2019 as part of the ensemble for “A Christmas Carol.” This show sparked something in her and she’s been hooked on theater ever since.

“Because of how much fun I had, I started taking classes, and then classes turned into camps, and ever since, I’ve just loved being at Venice Theatre,” she said. “I started helping with classes and I started doing the teen improv troupe and then I interned. I always knew I loved performing, but I didn’t know how much.”

Delaney has appeared in other shows at the theater, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Wind in the Willows” and “Once Upon a Mattress.”

She was working on her sixth show there, “Arabian Nights,” when Hurricane Ian hit, and the show was canceled because of the destruction to the main stage.

She’s confident that Venice Theatre will be able to bounce back from the devastation.

“Theater people are strong and rally and always come back …Theater people are so creative and it’s just amazing what they can do and come up with,” Delaney said. “Also, I realized it’s the people that make me love it so much not the actual building. And then … I came up with my lemonade stand idea because I didn’t want to just sit and be sad and do nothing.”

Learn more about how to donate to the theater’s hurricane recovery here.