Staff photo by Clay Schuldt State Street Theater board members accept $300,000 in pledges from donors. L to R: Carol Ryberg, Roger Ryberg, Andy Biebl, Thor Mickelson, Jodi Marti, Mikhail Roslislavovich, Sharon Pieschel, Mary Ellen Domeier and Dan Beranek.

NEW ULM– State Street Theater Company is halfway to reaching it’s $600,000 campaign goal following generous pledges from the Mickelson Media Foundation and Ryberg Family Foundation.

Thor and Cindi Mickelson of the Mickelson Media Foundation and Roger and Carol Ryberg of the Ryberg Family Foundation each pledged $100,000 for the project. Another $100,000 was received from gifts, SSTC board participation, capital campaign members and a grant from the Carol and Verna Schmidt Foundation.

SSTC hopes others individuals and groups will match the challenge to help complete the upgrades to the historic theater building.

Allocations for the $600,000 are: 38% for new seats, floor repairs, carpeting; 27% for balcony repairs, replacement windows and cement repair; 15% for expansion of the sprinkler system; 12% for Americans with Disabilities Act ramping, railings and sidewalks, and 8% for signage and landscaping.

Roger Ryberg said they donated because of an interest in the arts, an interest in New Ulm and and interest in maintating the building.

“Why not make (SSTC) a class act?” he said. “It is too good a deal to pass up.”

Ryberg believed improving the theater could be a great service to southern Minnesota as a whole in terms of economic development.

Thor Mickelson said his family has a connection to the old theater building that was previously the New Ulm High School. Mickelson’s father attended the school, and he remembers running up and the down the stairs for basketball practice. Mickelson said the building has a great legacy in New Ulm.

“The generosity of the Mickelsons and Rybergs in offering this challenge opportunity is much appreciated,” SST board chairman Mikhail Rostislavovich said. “Its success will enable SSTC to further its goal of being a good steward of the property entrusted to us. On behalf of the regional community we serve, the board of State Street Theater accepts the challenge and will do all we can to conduct a successful capital campaign.”