Public Theater of San Antonio Pauses Season; Launches Fundraising Campaign

The Public Theater of San Antonio is the latest in a series of non-profit theater companies to resort to shortened seasons and cost-cutting measures as post-pandemic audiences struggle to return to the theater.

The San Antonio-based non-profit theatre company will pause its current season to launch a $500,000 "Save the Playhouse" fundraising campaign, according to The San Antonio Report.

The productions affected are Twelfth Night (originally planned for October 6-22), A Xmas Cuento Remix (December 1-17), Spring Awakening (February 16-March 3), Intimate Apparel (May 10-26) and Once Upon a Mattress (July 12-28). The remaining productions will resume once the fundraising goal is achieved. 

In July, the San Antonio Public Theatre partnered with Classic Theatre of San Antonio to combine leadership, resulting in a team of Producing Artistic Director Jimmy Moore, Managing Director Christina Casella, Director of Marketing and Audience Experience Rick Sanchez, and President and CEO Asia Ciaravino.

Upon looking at the organization's finances, Ciaravino made the decision to pause the previously announced season to focus on fundraising and avoid layoffs and further cuts.

“This beloved theatre organization has endured and survived for over a century in San Antonio, including multiple leadership transitions from the past ten years,” says Director of Marketing and Audience Experience Rick Sanchez. “The Playhouse has been the home to many artists throughout its legacy. A treasured theater for the San Antonio theatre community and beyond. This campaign is an important call to action for the community and San Antonio to show their love and dedication for the theater, to come together and save it for future generations of storytellers and theatergoers.”

As well as the Save the Playhouse fundraising campaign, new leadership is working on renewing and rebuilding relationships with foundations to lock in large gifts to help secure and sustain the theater’s future. “The Playhouse is a treasure to San Antonio, and the Board has full faith that the new team will cultivate new and past supporters to supply the much-needed funds so we can produce top-class art for all audiences,” says Board Chair Dawn Cole. “The theater has faced an uphill battle in these post-pandemic years. We are doing everything we can to save the theater. We hope the theater’s long history of theatre-making will draw on the many generations affected by the organization’s theatre magic. Now is the time for all to answer the call to support the theater during this time of need.”

The company has received a $40,000 pledge from board members and has plans for a gala this fall, as well as a new education program. 

“The next few months of this campaign are crucial. We are calling on ALL supporters, big and small, from the past, present, and future, to dig deep and give as much as they can to the theater and secure its longevity for the future.” says Ciaravino.

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About The Public Theater of San Antonio

The Public Theater of San Antonio creates dynamic professional theatre and arts programming that unites the diverse communities of San Antonio and enriches the quality of life in our city through transformative storytelling that reflects the human experience. As San Antonio’s regional professional theater, many volunteers and service contractors contribute to the organization’s success. An average of two hundred professionally paid performers and technicians annually participate in productions. Nearly 90% of the performers and creative team members are from the local region under new leadership. Established in 1912 as the San Antonio Dramatic Club and incorporated on April 6, 1927, as the San Antonio Little Theatre, it is the longest-running theater in South Texas. The company has had other brands, such as The San Pedro Playhouse (1997) and The
Playhouse San Antonio (2012). Its most recent brand, The Public Theater of San Antonio, was unveiled on January 7, 2018, to align the organization’s new professional vision to the region’s needs. The Public Theater has evolved to serve its community as a 501c3 non-profit organization for over a century. Visit www.thepublicsa.org for more information.

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