American Stage Theatre Company Finishes 2008-09 Season Breaking Several Records

American Stage Theatre Company's 30th anniversary season has ended with a bang as several of the theatre's all-time attendance records were broken, including the highest Mainstage Series attendance for one season, largest increase in attendance between two seasons and a new most attended production with the recently closed DOUBT.

This past season, over 40,000 tickets were sold for all American Stage events, with an all time best 23,620 attending the six-play Mainstage Series, a record six percent increase from the 2007-08 season. With the theatre's highest subscribership (3,136 subscribers), three of the Mainstage Stage series productions from the past season are American Stage's most attended, A TUNA CHRISTMAS (4,453), TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE (4,601) and the new record holder, DOUBT, which sold 4,682 total tickets.

Playing at American Stage from July 22 thru August 23, DOUBT was directed by Todd Olson and starred Christine Decker and Eric Davis.

The rest of the top five attended plays in American Stage's history are DINNER WITH FRIENDS (4,327) and ANNA OF THE TROPICS (4,272).

"Our historic 30th anniversary season has been so incredible for American Stage," said Olson, the theatre's producing artistic director. "Moving into the state-of-the-art Raymond James Theatre, staging the most attended American Stage in the Park we've had in several years, the success of our After Hours programming and the prolific growth of our Mainstage Series have made this season one for the ages, and makes me excited to start the 2009-10 season for the theatre lovers in our community."

The 2009-10 season opens on Sept. 19 with the next chapter in the theatre's August Wilson "Century Cycle", FENCES, playing thru Oct. 11. American Stage is the only regional professional equity theatre of its size to commit to mounting all ten of preeminent African-American playwright August Wilson's award winning plays.

FENCES is August Wilson's towering masterpiece, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for "Best Play". Set in 1957, FENCES explores what holds families together (and drives them apart) in a powerful story filled with humor, love, hope, failure and triumph. The play follows Troy Maxon, a former Negro League baseball star whose prime came before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. After Troy's rapid rise ends, he is forced to let go of his dreams and deal with his headstrong football playing son who has a chance to go so much further than he did.

American Stage Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1977. The company's mission is to create the most satisfying live theatre in the Tampa Bay area, accessible to all members of the community. Their vision is to preserve the greatest human stories from our past, while creating the most defining stories and storytelling of our time. American Stage presents its six play Mainstage Series on its brand new 182-seat Raymond James Theatre each year. The very popular American Stage in the Park celebrates its 25th Anniversary year. The theatre's other programming includes: After Hours Series, School Tour, and classes and summer camp for children. The Hough Family Foundation is the season sponsor, Raymond James is the Mainstage sponsor, Bank of America is the education partner and WUSF 89.7 is the radio sponsor of American Stage.

 

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