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DC and Maryland retailers including Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company, Batch 13 and Silesia Liquors are showing their support of local nonprofit Molotov Theatre Group by carrying food and beverage items with the company's iconic brand.
The theatre company hopes that the new line of hot sauce, salsa and energy drink will expose the company to a more diverse audience.
"Ticket sales account for only 60 percent of the budget for most theatre companies," explained Molotov Theatre Group Co-Artistic Director Alex Zavistovich. "Grant opportunities are shrinking. Small theatre companies have to think creatively about building audience in new markets."
To that end, Molotov has teamed with well-known local food and beverage companies to bring its brand to new audiences:
· Rocklands' Georgetown location (2418 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20007) will carry "Molotov Seven Sins Chipotle Hot Sauce."
· Batch 13 (1724 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009) will carry "Molotov Blast Sugar-Free Energy Drink."
· Silesia Liquors (10909 Livingston Rd, Fort Washington, MD 20744) will carry "Molotov Blood Bath Habanero Salsa."
"Molotov ticket-buyers have a wide range of interests besides theatre - for example, graphic novels, films, and video games. We needed to raise our reputation with these important other audiences," said Zavistovich. "We had to go bigger than the t-shirts other theatres sell in-house, because our need for awareness was greater."
Added Co-Artistic Director Michael Wright, "Food and beverage items made the most sense for us. They appeal to a wide range of ages and interests. Our products - hot sauce, salsa and energy drinks - are a natural fit with Molotov's fiery and intense reputation."
"Rocklands has always appreciated home-grown flavors," pointed out John Snedden, founder and owner of Rocklands. "And we've been involved with the communities around our restaurants since we opened, so we appreciate the chance to support a local nonprofit at the same time we provide customers with a good product."
The company is grateful to see its products in these and other locations. While Molotov is selling its products online (www.molotovtheatre.org), the support of local businesses is crucial.
"Theatre is a small business like any other," said Zavistovich. "We rely on the business network in our home town to succeed. The support of other businesses gives us legitimacy - and gives us an important way of getting our name known by other local customers."
About Molotov Theatre Group: Founded in 2007, the 501(c)3 non-profit Molotov Theatre Group is dedicated to education, preservation and exploration in the aesthetic of the Grand Guignol, or French Theater of Horror. Molotov Theatre Group applies the Grand Guignol ideals to contemporary and classic works. They also produce English translations of original Grand Guignol scripts to preserve and draw attention to this important, and essentially forgotten genre. The Molotov Literacy Project uses ebook and audiobook pairings of horror literature classics to improve adult literacy.
For more information on Molotov Theatre Group: http://molotovtheatre.org http://facebook.com/molotovtheatre http://twitter.com/molotovtheatre
To Support the Molotov Literacy Project: http://molotovliteracyproject.org http://facebook.com/molotovliteracyproject
