Actors Theatre Donors Respond To Plea With $38,290 In First 3 Days

More than 165 donors from eight states responded to Actors Theatre's public plea to help keep its doors open by donating $38,290 during the first three days of its three-stage fund-raising effort.

To address a serious cash flow shortfall and prevent a shutdown, Actors Theatre announced on Friday that it must raise $70,000 by November 30 to complete its run of NEXT FALL, which opened Friday, and begin production work on HUNTER GATHERERS, the next show of the season.

An additional $170,000 must be raised by December 31 to allow the company to continue the season and another $260,000 is needed by June 30 to stabilize the company, establish a strong financial footing and move forward.

The company reported that more than $25,000 was donated during the first 24 hours.

"We may be a theatre for the community of Phoenix, but we have touched lives across the country," said Managing Director Erica Black. "As heartening as the response has been so far, we know we still have a hard road to climb."

Black said that in addition to donations through The Actors Theatre website (www.actorstheatrephx.org), the company has received "many, many words of support and offers to help."

Besides reaching the public through media channels and personal contacts, Actors Theatre is using its Facebook page, website and other online communication tools to "build what we hope will be a grassroots effort," Black said. "We know that these are very tough times, but we also know that small donations can add up quickly."
Producing Artistic Director Matthew Wiener encouraged donations ranging from one-time contributions to regular monthly pledges. Neither Wiener nor Black have been paid in more than six weeks and The Actors Theatre staff is deferring part of their paychecks to next year.
"They are already living paycheck to paycheck and this only puts more stress on them, but they are so committed to Actors Theatre they're willing to run that risk," Wiener said.

He said that even though Actors Theatre operated in the black last year - barely - and ticket sales have been solid this year, the company has been "crippled because private and corporate contributions, individual donations and grant dollars have virtually dried up." During Fiscal Year 2009-10, Actors Theatre's contributed revenue was $668,368. In FY 2010-11, it was $568,526. Before donations started coming in on Friday, since July 1, the company had only been able to raise $45,012.

To make a donation or for more information, go to www.actorstheatrephx.org or call (602) 253-6701.