Skylight Music Theatre Scores Budget Surplus with 2012-13 Season

Skylight Music Theatre has announced financial information for the recently completed fiscal year. "The 2012-2013 season exceeded all expectations, particularly at the box office, and resulted in a small operating surplus," reported Skylight Managing Director, Amy Jensen. "We are pleased to report that we increased revenues by 14% over the prior year while holding our expenses to a nominal 2% increase."

Record breaking ticket sales provided the driving force behind the season's success. Ticket sales, which exceeded expectations by 31%, topped $1.5 million - the highest in Skylight's 54-year history. One key factor contributing to Skylight's success at the box office was the roll out of a new strategic plan in June 2012 which included new initiatives to increase group sales and expand Skylight's audience. In addition, exceptionally high critical acclaim and word-of-mouth for productions throughout the season contributed to an unprecedented number of sold out performances. Skylight's production of The Sound of Music accounted for the greatest number of capacity performances and became the company's highest grossing production ever.

The 2012-2013 season was a transition year for the Skylight. It was the ninth and final year for outgoing artistic director, Bill Theisen. Mr. Theisen is currently the Director of Opera at the University of Iowa. In September 2012, Skylight announced his successor, Viswa Subbaraman, former artistic director and founder of Opera Vista in Houston. Mr. Subbaraman joined Skylight in June 2013 and recently received critical acclaim for his Bollywood version of Beethoven's Fidelio which opened Skylight's 2013-2014 season and was Subbaraman's first production with the company.