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From YubaNet.com Regional
A mini-season with 3 plays, running until August 2, 2009 is planned. After that, there is an option to produce another mini-season, including an original Christmas production. A $31,500 grant from the James Irvine Foundation is dedicated to that production. Dispelling some rumors, Robertson stated the total cost for the sets of the last 4 productions was $1,400. He attributed the low expenses to the ingenuity of the staff, repeatedly thanking all ten members for their dedication. Should FTC achieve a 50% occupancy over the next season, the company will break even. The 2009 Miniseason tickets will go on sale next week, $75 for three plays for adults and only $35 for students. Below is the news release by FTC. FTC Board opts "to be" rather than "not to be" After two hours of deliberation in Thursday's board meeting, the Foothill Theatre Company board of directors reached a fateful decision. "We're going forward," says Board President Lowell Robertson. "Our future begins next spring, with a three-show demi season of crowd-pleasing plays, and new, recession-buster ticket prices. We've been in the news a lot since July, asking for donations to keep us alive. Now that Wall Street and Motown are making the same noises, people are getting tired of it, and we don't blame them. We will, of course, continue to seek donations, but our public relations emphasis is going to shift away from donations, and toward ticket sales." This is contrary to the plan rolled out at the end of July. Then, the plan was to break FTC's cycle of debt by raising $247K in donations before December 31. Failing that, the company would cease operations, rather than continue to carry the debt forward. So, why the change in direction? "That was before the financial crisis turned the world upside down," says Robertson. "Circumstances keep changing, both for worse and for better. We're simply trying to adapt to conditions on the ground and make responsible decisions that serve both us, and our community. Our patrons have responded heroically to our appeal for help - we've raised over 150K already. Just yesterday, an angel came forward with an offer to launch a 25K matching grant in January. Another has donated a high-ticket item for us to raffle or auction off. And the staff has proposed a plan for a shortened season, which we believe is viable." "The reasoning behind the shortened season," says FTC Executive Director Karen Marinovich, "is that it limits our liability up to a certain dollar amount and time on the calendar. So we will launch a three-show season, opening in March and closing on August 2nd. This buys us more time to continue to fundraise and continue to retire the old debt. We are clearly re-defining and re-inventing ourselves, and I expect we'll continue to do so for the next few years, until the economy stabilizes." "If we had closed our doors yesterday," adds Artistic Director Carolyn Howarth, "it would have been a slap in the face to the hundreds of philanthropists who have given to us in the last five months. By staying alive into next year, we are buying time - time to maybe win the game (or maybe lose, or tie) but at least we won't be forfeiting. That's not our style." In closing, Robertson muses, "We're constantly evaluating what we've done right and what we've done wrong. What we've done right is mount excellent theatrical productions, as evidenced by the burgeoning ticket sales and enthusiastic response from patrons and critics in the last few months. On the other hand, we recognize that raising ticket prices, as we intended to do, is not the right choice in the current climate, so we've changed that plan. Instead, we've reduced most ticket prices, with subscription packages starting at $35 for students, $50 for previews, and $75 for regular season tickets. We're holding the line on single ticket prices, at $31, with a ten percent discount for seniors, veterans and active military personnel, and a deep, deep discount for students - student tickets are down to the price of a New York movie - just $12! Attendance has been down since the war started, we aim to get it back up again. We're going to earn our way out of this predicament!" The 2009 3-play season will be announced as soon as permission is obtained, probably within a week. © Copyright YubaNet.com |
