The Stratford Shakespeare Festival Announces Surplus for 2011 Season

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival held its Annual General Meeting Saturday, celebrating its 2011 season – a season which not only won resounding praise on both sides of the Atlantic, but also ended with a surplus of $52,995.

"At a time when arts organizations throughout North America are struggling financially, we can take pride in the fact that we were able to realize a surplus while presenting a season of sound artistic integrity," says General Director Antoni Cimolino. "Our staff and artists can be very proud of their accomplishments in 2011. We met a number of fiscal challenges head on and presented a playbill that generated extremely enthusiastic response across the board. We extend our thanks to our loyal patrons, members and sponsors whose support is essential to our success."

"The 2011 season was artistically the most ambitious season since I started my tenure," says Artistic Director Des McAnuff. "It included plays such as Pinter's The Homecoming, Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus, a non-traditionAl Richard III, and in our largest venue, Moliere's The Misanthrope. Our mandate as a classically based theatre commits us to exploring the great works of drama, including darker and less familiar plays – those that we know will challenge our artists and audiences alike. I am pleased that 2011 saw our company and our supporters rise to meet the challenge. It is extremely satisfying to end such an audacious season not only with artistic accolades but also with balanced books."

"By any yardstick, 2011 was a year of extraordinary achievement for our Festival, both on stage and off," says Dr. Lee Myers, Chair of the Board of Governors, "and I want to offer my thanks and congratulations to both our Artistic Director, Des McAnuff, and our General Director, Antoni Cimolino. Their truly visionary leadership has enabled us not just to weather these turbulent economic times but to triumph over them both artistically and fiscally. Our artists won international acclaim for their work in a season that touched every aspect of our mandate."
Revenue was $59.6 million, up from $59.1 million in 2010. Earned revenue accounted for 67% of that total, or $39.8 million. Support from donors was up an impressive 14% at $13.3 million, or 22% of revenue. Government contributions totalled $4.79 million or 8% or revenue. Three per cent of revenue, or $1.74 million, came from the Endowment Foundation transfer.

With overall attendance of 455,044, average capacity in 2011 was 65%, equal to the average capacity attained over the nine years since the 50th season. Anticipating a softer sales market, the Festival set realistic goals for the season's budget.

"When planning for this season, we saw a number of issues that would affect the bottom line," says Mr. Cimolino, "including the poor economy, the introduction of the HST in Ontario, the high Canadian dollar and the loss of the federal government's Marquee Tourism Events Program.

"As a result, we budgeted prudently and capitalized on opportunities to reduce expenses and optimize revenues, while maintaining the highest quality of work on our stages. This careful planning combined with the very generous support of our donors allowed us to record a surplus for 2011."

As in 2010, Shakespeare plays accounted for 30% of total ticket sales, maintaining the increase achieved over 2009, when 23% of tickets sold were for Shakespeare titles. Shakespeare sales to schools rose to 21,000 seats in 2011 from 17,000 in 2010.

Of particular appeal to student audiences – and audiences in general – was Mr. McAnuff's production of Twelfth Night, the season's strongest selling non-musical play and one of the top-selling productions of Mr. McAnuff's tenure to date. A CD of the music of Twelfth Night, composed for the production by Michael Roth and Mr. McAnuff, was a top seller at the Theatre Store.

The production of Twelfth Night was also filmed for cinematic release. Produced and directed for the screen by Barry Avrich, it premièred at Cineplex Entertainment Theatres shortly after the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting. An encore screening will be offered on March 21.

"Our films are a means of reaching out nationally and internationally," says Mr. McAnuff. "Not only do they capture memorable performances that would otherwise be lost to posterity, but they also give people a taste of what to expect on our stages, enticing them to come and experience Stratford first-hand. Throughout my tenure at Stratford, I've been impressed above all by the extraordinary strength of our artists. Our films are an ideal showcase for their talents, bringing our company's work to a whole new audience."

"Des's productions have a vast and impressive visual quality, which allows them to transfer beautifully to screen, giving us an effective means of showcasing the Festival's work across Canada and farther afield," says Mr. Cimolino. "This year we established a new relationship with BY Experience – the company that distributes the Metropolitan Opera films – a move that will take these films to an even wider audience and will augment our U.S. marketing efforts."

Sales in the U.S., which had been affected by the rising Canadian dollar, high gas prices and the struggling economy in Michigan, are beginning to level out as the Festival works to rebuild its American market. High priority is also being given to strengthening sales in Ontario.

The runaway hit of the 2011 season was Mr. McAnuff's production of Jesus Christ Superstar earnEd Kudos not only from the media but also from its creators, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. After enjoying a week-long extension in Stratford, the show had a sold-out run at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, where it won the San Diego Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Touring Production. Now in previews, Jesus Christ Superstar opens on Broadway on March 22, providing the Festival with a new revenue stream.

"I am very pleased with the agreement struck for Jesus Christ Superstar," says Mr. McAnuff. "It is expected to provide a healthy contribution to the Festival's bottom line, not just this year but into the future, as we have a commitment for all related productions, including national and international tours. It is my dream that Jesus Christ Superstar will provide the Festival with a financial legacy of my tenure."

Tickets are on sale now for the Festival's 60th season, which features 14 productions presented from April 12 to October 28: Much Ado About Nothing; 42nd Street; The Matchmaker; Henry V; You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; The Pirates of Penzance; A Word or Two; Cymbeline; Wanderlust; Elektra; MacHomer; The Best Brothers; Hirsch; and The War of 1812. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit stratfordshakespearefestival.com or call 1.800.567.1600.

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