BANGOR – Penobscot Theatre Company’s Extraordinary Friends Campaign has received a $30,000 challenge grant from the city of Bangor. On April 30, Penobscot announced a new Extraordinary Friends fund-raising campaign, the result of which will determine whether the theater remains a vital anchor in Bangor’s growing cultural district.

“We are tremendously encouraged by the message Bangor’s challenge conveys to other funders to support the theatre in a significant way. The Bangor Challenge presents an opportunity to broaden and deepen the theatre’s base of support in Bangor,” said producing artistic director Mark Torres. “This means every dollar contributed by Bangor residents, businesses and organizations to the Theatre’s Extraordinary Friends Campaign will be matched up to a total of $30,000.”

To receive the Bangor Challenge, the city is requiring Penobscot Theatre to raise $30,000 by Aug. 31 from people who live in Bangor, Bangor business owners or Bangor service organizations. The campaign has already received contributions from 300 donors totaling $70,000 toward the goal of $250,000. The $30,000 grant from Bangor will not be counted in the campaign total until Bangor donors meet the challenge.

For information about the Extraordinary Friends Campaign, contact development director Alicia Nichols or alicia@maineshakespeare. org.

Contributions may be sent to Penobscot Theatre Company, 183 Main St., Bangor 04401.

A nonprofit organization, the mission of Penobscot Theatre Company is to offer high-quality, professional theater experiences staged throughout the year, to provide educational outreach programs, and to develop and enrich new and existing audiences and artists.