The Marblehead Little Theatre recently received a competitive Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund grant of $13,750 to construct two second floor bathrooms - and now they are looking for help from the local residents to match that amount.

This is the second MCFF/MassDevelopment grant awarded to the Little Theatre.

The first – for $60,000 - was awarded in 2009 to help fund the construction of the three-stop elevator that allowed the theatre to open up the upper floors of the building.

The abandoned former Marblehead Central Firehouse building was purchased from the town in 2000, and over the past decade, the organization has raised and invested over $1.5 million in the renovation project.

The investment has resulted in "the three-story, 6,980-square-foot theatre building being completely ADA accessible and in full compliance with 21st Century “Public Assembly” safety code requirements," according to a press release.

The Second Floor Bathroom Grant is for $13,750 and must be matched by the Marblehead Little Theatre.

The second floor bathrooms will be used primarily by "Children’s Theatre students, who rehearse on the second floor, and by 'main stage' actors preparing for a first floor production," according to release.

The planned bathrooms will allow students to avoid going to the first floor bathrooms, and will allow actors to avoid impacting audience access to the bathrooms just prior to a performance.

Donations may be made directly to: MLT at 12 School Street, Marblehead, MA, 01945 or on the organization's website.

Residents looking for more information are encouraged to contact Charles Gessner at chgessner@mac.com or call him at 781-631-3552.