Loft Ensemble Theatre Company losing home in downtown Los Angeles

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A local non-profit theatre company is losing its downtown Los Angeles home.

The Loft Ensemble Theatre Company has been in the arts district for almost a decade in an intimate, 55-seat theatre.

But that's about to end and members are now using GoFundMe to keep their art alive.

"Nobody here gets paid," said Bree Pavey, Loft Ensemble's Production Manager. "This whole place has operated since 2007 on volunteers and passion and love."

Loft Ensemble does six full productions a year-with a budget of just $500 a show.

They also offer dozens of one-night-only events, theatre camps for children with autism and even theatre training classes. But that is all in jeopardy because the company's lease is not being renewed.

"This building has been purchased by someone who wants to completely demolish the inside and turn it into a bunch of restaurants and shops, which doesn't leave any room for a non-profit theatre," Pavey said.

"It was always just to break even and give back and let people have opportunities to do art. And that's what it's been doing for 10 years now," Adam Chambers, the company's artistic director, said.

To save the company and find a new space, Loft Ensemble recently launched this GoFundMe account to let Los Angeles know it needs to raise $15,000 in donations to rent a new facility, build a stage, get seats, install lights and more.

The members have been producing videos every day to thank donors as the money pours in, closing in on the $15,000.