Organizers of two recent variety shows say the events went better than expected on Nov. 1 to help bring a vertical platform lift to the Dungeness Schoolhouse, 2781 Towne Road.

More than a dozen performers sang and played the shows to raise $2,444.93 in a joint effort by the Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley and Readers Theatre Plus to raise about $22,000 to replace the schoolhouse’s chair lift with an enclosed lift.

Performances ranged from singers and accordion players to Broadway tunes to barbershop quartets. Private tours of the schoolhouse and an antique car show went on before and in-between shows.

Volunteer Shelley Taylor said prior to the show they received about $1,400 for the lift and Jim Dries with Readers Theatre Plus said group members received $1,000 for the lift and the Port Angeles Symphony donated half of its earnings ($1,645) from the theater group’s show “A Nice Family Gathering.”

“Readers Theatre Plus is proud to have taken the lead in getting this fund begun, not only for the use of RT+, but for the benefit of the entire community,” Dries said.

So far, the group has raised about $6,500.

Dries said Readers Theatre Plus members acknowledged the efforts of Taylor, Ric Munhall, Jeff Clinton and Bob and Judy Stipe and Pat Marcy, Sue Valnes and Paul Martin along with major donors Dave and June Kalpousos and Barbara Hughes.

Donations can be sent to Readers Theatre Plus, Box 395, Carlsborg, WA 98324 and add the note “VPL Benefit.”