Phantom Theater hosts HARP benefit concert at Lareau Farm
July 10, 2026 | By Lucas Bates
Colin Holter and Jewel House. The Denver-based, six-piece disco pop band blends the glitter and nostalgia of the 70s with contemporary flair. Courtesy photo
Phantom Theater kicks off its 2026 summer season with a special concert on July 14 to support renovations to Harwood Union High School’s auditorium.
The band Jewel House will play at Lareau Farm in Waitsfield, 7-9 p.m., and all proceeds will support the Harwood Auditorium Renovation Project, called HARP.
About the band
Formed in 2018, Denver-based Jewel House blends soul, groove and dance music to produce infectious rhythms and harmonies that’ll surely get audiences out of their chairs and onto the dance floor. Led by the Mad River Valley’s own Colin Holter on vocals, his energy and stage presence are unmatched.
Accompanying Colin on vocals for this special performance are his two sisters, Ella Holter - making her highly anticipated return to Phantom - and their younger sister Abby. All three Holter siblings attended Harwood and credit the music department there with nurturing their passion for the arts and music in particular.
They say that returning to Vermont to perform in support of HARP makes the evening that much more special for all of them.
About the cause
For decades, Harwood’s music and theater programs have been renowned for producing some of the highest-quality high school performances in the state. Yet while student talent has continued to flourish and grow, the auditorium itself has not kept pace.
In the spring of 2024, vocal teacher Molly Clark Desrochers teamed up with theater director Scott Weigand to form a committee to address the long-overdue need for improvements to the space. Recognizing the challenges and restrictions of the current budget climate, they launched HARP to help fund the upgrades of equipment and infrastructure.
“We’re currently in phase one of the project,” Desrochers said. “That means replacing all of the curtains and bringing the rigging and pulley systems up to code so we can eventually install a new lighting system. So far it’s been a true grassroots fundraising effort, but we plan to become a nonprofit, which will open up additional opportunities through grants and larger donor support.”
Ultimately, HARP aims to transform the auditorium into a modern performance space that matches the quality of Harwood’s music and theater programs while serving students and the broader community for years to come.
The July 14 concert at Lareau Farm will be both a night of exceptional live music and a boost to the auditorium project.
Tickets ($20) for Tuesday’s concert are available at the door or online at phantomtheater.org.
Note: The concert space will depend on the evening’s weather. If it's raining, the show will be in the pavillion. If it's shining, the band will play on the back porch. Dancing will be possible in both locations. Cookies and drinks will be available for purchase, also to benefit HARP, but Flatbread will not be serving. Attendees are welcome to bring a picnic, blankets or chairs.
Learn more about HARP online at harpvt.org.
Lucas Bates is a member of the Phantom Theater Board of Directors.