Save the Nationally-Acclaimed Magic Theatre in San Francisco...

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/2/09 at 3:33am

The historic Magic Theatre in San Franciso must raise $350,000 by January 9th to stay open! Please donate what you can.

http://www.facebook.com/help/seeall.php?facebook&id=414#/group.php?gid=55474844472&ref=nf

Shakespeare Santa Cruz raised over $400,000 in a week; we can do this! Spread the word to ALL your friends, family, co-workers, classmates, etc!

From the theatre's website:

"San Francisco's nationally acclaimed new plays theatre, MAGIC THEATRE, is on the brink of shutting its doors. Now in the midst of a staff shutdown, MAGIC may be forced to cancel the remainder of its season and close for good. To keep our doors open we must raise $350,000 by January 9, 2009. This will allow us to bring back our staff, go on with our season, and remain responsible to our creditors. You can make a difference! Please help us save this historic institution.

Our core value of risk over commercial gain makes MAGIC a challenging endeavor in any economy, and in going forward, MAGIC is committed to a new model of financial stability for a new world-- without compromising our mission. Today however, MAGIC's accumulated debt of $600,000, combined with sharp declines in earned and contributed revenue due to the global economy, place us in imminent peril of shutting our doors.

For 42 years, San Francisco's MAGIC THEATRE has been central to the cultural life of the Bay Area and beyond, giving life to some of the most important, diverse, and powerful voices of contemporary American artists, including four Pulitzer Prize winners. From its humble beginnings in a Berkeley bar, MAGIC has emerged as one of the crown jewels of American Theatre. Please donate now.

The closing of MAGIC THEATRE would be a great loss for artists and audiences here and across the country. The second largest theatre in San Francisco, MAGIC employs 200 artists annually and touches the lives of tens of thousands of people. We need to keep our artists and our work on the stage!

The Board remains committed to MAGIC's new plays mission and in concert with the staff has been proactive in drastically cutting its $2 million budget by over $300,000 and raising additional funds in an attempt to close the gap between MAGIC's expenses and revenue lost as a result of the recession. With rehearsals for MAGIC's next production--Tough Titty by Oni Faida Lampley--slated to begin in early January, MAGIC must raise $350,000 within the next twelve days in order to continue its 43rd season. Please donate now.

Artistically, MAGIC is thriving, building upon its rich legacy under the artistic direction of Loretta Greco, who joined the theatre last spring. The critical success of the first two productions of this season demonstrate the rigor MAGIC passionately brings to each aspect of new play production — and the hoped for excitement, awe, and wonder that come from watching great art play out for audiences.

We need YOU to help us raise $350,000 by January 9, 2009. Please help us keep our doors open by making a donation today of $15.00 or more. Please give whatever you can to save MAGIC THEATRE. No amount is too small or too large. Each of you can make a difference."

http://www.magictheatre.org

Updated On: 1/2/09 at 03:33 AM

[antonijan]

Posted: 1/2/09 at 10:26pm

I previewed "Octopus" in that intimate theatre and it's just sad that a lot of them are closing.

I will definitely put in a donation b4 the Jan 9 deadline.

What other Theatres nationwide are in need of support?

Post it here so we can help.

Thanks Tmm.

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 12:05am

Awesome ... we can and will save this staple of live theatre!

There was a great story on the McNeil-Lehrer News Hour today ... basically, the large theatres have a better chance at surviving, and the tiny ones do as well. The semi-big companies, like AMT (which sadly shuttered ... but is trying to get revived) and Shakespeare Santa Cruz (which was saved by raising over $400,000 in ten days) need the most help.

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 11:01pm

The response has been tremendous; as of now, the theatre needs just over $80,000!

By Friday! We can do this!

Please give what you can; no donation is too small!

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/7/09 at 3:52am

An appeal from Paula Vogel:

http://www.magictheatre.org/season0809/season0809_vogel.htm

Dear Friends, Romans, Countrymen:

Some eleven years ago Circle Rep closed its doors on Sheridan Square, after 27 years of operation. A tiny space, with 165 seats, the place had an enormous impact on American Theatre. Not a week goes by that I don't think of the gaping hole in our field that disappeared under free market pressures, the short-sighted way that we "fund" the making of theatre in this country.

Today, I can not bear to walk past the spot, and I walk blocks out of my way (I think they are serving hamburgers where my life was changed working with Cherry Jones and Anne Bogart).

One of my comforts has been thinking that, well, the Magic Theatre has endured decades, and perhaps it is just too harsh a climate in New York. Perhaps nestled on the Bay, San Franciscans know, in a gentler clime, how to nurture American playwrights in a way that will continue.

We know now that unless everyone contributes quickly there will be another enormous loss in the history of living American writers, and a place of heritage for all of us in the American Theatre. I know that everyone is strapped right now--thanks to the greed and narrow minded priorities of the Bush administration and the eight years that have driven us all to the brink--but we must make sure that the Magic Theatre doesn't become another casualty of the past eight years.

I believe in the leadership of Loretta Greco, and I know it will be an enormous loss if we don't help stem the loss. Please, please, give as you can to keep the doors open.

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/7/09 at 11:23pm

Appeal from Octavio Solis:

http://www.magictheatre.org/season0809/season0809_solis.htm

Like a moth to the flame, I was drawn to the Magic of San Francisco. I discovered in Dallas of the mid-80's that I was a playwright, and craved to find the theatres and workshops that would test and develop my skills. By then, the legend of the Magic Theatre loomed large as a proving ground for new work, as the home base of luminaries like Sam Shepard and Michael McClure, so my wife and I chose California for our new home. Within a year of moving to San Francisco, this theatre gave me a shot and selected one of my plays for the following season, and in the course of the next decade, I had another work produced there. Since then, my craft has been honed and I have sustained relationships with other theatres here and across the country, but I am still a little stunned and very proud to have been among the esteemed company of writers like Wendy McLeod, David Mamet, Paula Vogel, Richard Greenberg, Maria Irene Fornes, Keith Reddin, Claire Chafee, Kristen Greenidge, John O'Keefe and countless others whose plays have graced the stages of the Magic Theatre. It remains a tremendous laboratory for developing and showcasing dazzling new work which trace the cultural progress of this nation through the years, and introduces us to talents that we can feel assured will significantly alter the landscape of the American Theatre to come, because the Magic is the American Theatre. From 1967 to the present, from John Lion to Loretta Greco, this place has earned its right to be here, it has become charged with the ghosts of all the stories it has borne; it has become part of American history and San Franciscan lore; it has employed so many of our treasured actors, designers and theatre lovers; and it has carried its hard-won reputation from one century into another. The Magic has given us memorable magic, but now it needs our help. Please help. I believe that every generation gets the Art it deserves, and we deserve another generation of the Magic Theatre.

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 1/8/09 at 1:14am

...

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/8/09 at 10:54pm

Deadline extended ... must raise over $50,000 by Monday in order to stay open ... so close!

http://www.magictheatre.org

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/9/09 at 9:39pm

http://www.magictheatre.org/

At the latest count, they were up to nearly $294,000.

Posted on the cause's official Facebook page the other day:

From the Magic:

Since its initial appeal nine days ago, San Francisco's nationally acclaimed new plays theatre, MAGIC THEATRE, has raised more than $250,000. MAGIC was just awarded an anonymous challenge grant from a leading national arts supporter to encourage the theatre to meet and exceed its fundraising goal so that Magic has the resources to continue its 43rd season and secure its future. To maximize this challenge, MAGIC has extended its fundraising campaign three days. The challenge will double the impact of contributions up to $100,000 made to MAGIC now through midnight Monday, January 12, 2009.Please donate now to increase the value of your contribution and keep Magic Theatre alive.

With funds raised so far, we began rehearsals for our next production—Tough Titty by Oni Faida Lampley—slated for previews beginning January 24th. The staff, furloughed for two weeks, is back at work with pay. MAGIC must raise a total of $350,000 by January 12, 2009 to retain our staff, continue the season, and remain responsible to our creditors. The new challenge grant is a crucial opportunity for MAGIC to ensure that we have the resources to complete our season and create a plan not just to survive, but thrive.

In a world where more and more theaters are eliminating the challenging and risky work of mounting new plays altogether, please help us fulfill our commitment to new work. We're $100,000 short of our goal. You can make a difference. Please donate now.

Updated On: 1/9/09 at 09:39 PM

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/10/09 at 2:18pm

Direct link to the donation form:

https://server15.lfchosting.com/pursued/magic/pages/donate_form.shtml

Times running short.

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/10/09 at 8:14pm

According to the website, at last count today, they were up to $302,000! So so close.

The deadline is Monday at midnight (pacific time).

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 7:39pm

At last count: $310,500

http://www.magictheatre.org

Updated On: 1/11/09 at 07:39 PM

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/12/09 at 1:51pm

No update yet, but as this is officially the last day, please donate all that you can.

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 1/13/09 at 2:22am

The deadline is in 40 minutes ... even $10 helps.