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UPDATE (7/1/16): TUCSON BUSINESS LEADER MIKE KASSER GUARANTEES $1 MILLION TOWARD ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY FUNDRAISING GOAL IF AN EQUAL AMOUNT CAN BE RAISED.
Tucson business leader and Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) board member Mike Kasser will guarantee $1 million toward ATC’s $2 million fundraising goal if an equal amount can be raised through the outreach effort now underway.
As a result, the ATC Board of Trustees has extended the fundraising deadline for this effort from Friday, July 1, until Friday, July 15. To that end, ATC Board of Trustees Chair Cameron C. Artigue said that a private donor has committed $100,000 as a separate donation to ensure that ATC operations can continue until the new deadline.
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ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES PLANS TO CANCEL THE UPCOMING 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON IF FUNDRAISING GAP OF $2 MILLION IS NOT MET BY JULY 1, 2016
Xanadu. Courtesy of Arizona Theatre Company.
The Board of Trustees of Arizona Theatre Company (ATC), the official State Theatre of Arizona, regrets to announce the likelihood of cancelling the upcoming season. The past several years have been financially challenging for ATC, and while considerable progress toward long-term financial sustainability has been made, the continued effort to attract the contributed income required to ensure artistic and financial success has fallen short of expectations.
Given the reality of the financial situation, if we don’t reach our $2 million fundraising goal, winding down operations and cancelling the 50th Anniversary season will be our only option.
“Ironically, we have just completed two of our most successful seasons, both in terms of artistic acclaim and ticket sales, and we now have management and consulting support that is enabling us to rebuild and strengthen our management systems,” said Cameron C. Artigue, Chair, Board of Trustees. “Unfortunately, in spite of substantial progress, we have had a disappointing year in our ability to attract the necessary level of contributed income across the state to continue that progress.”
The board hopes to receive funding commitments to enable ATC to continue its long history of producing engaging and professional theatre as well as educational programs of singular quality. If we are forced to cancel the 2016/17 season, we will continue our Summer on Stage program for high school students that is already funded.
Photo by Tim Fuller/Arizona Theatre Company
If the season is cancelled, regretfully we will be unable to refund tickets already purchased. However, we will work to provide our ticket holders with the following:
• Tax deductible donation for the value of subscription purchases
• Access to local venues to provide ATC patrons with alternative arts experiences
• An invitation to participate in ATC’s future planning
ATC is grateful to Phoenix, Tucson, and the rest of Arizona for the enthusiastic support they have shown the theatre for 50 years. ATC is the preeminent theatre in Arizona and is the only resident company in the U.S. that is fully based in two cities providing its wide array of programming and community outreach across the region. We will continue to communicate plans and hope they lead to serving Arizona for many years to come.
If you would like to help, please make a contribution today to save our theatre (click here) or contact:
Development Department: 520-884-8210
• Pauline Hechler x 7301
• Cynthia Wasco x 7302
• Carley Preston x 7305
Or email support@arizonatheatre.org.
