A DIRECT AND EFFECTIVE APPROACH…

I attended a performance of Merchant of Venice at Seattle Shakespeare Company this weekend, and excellent satisfying performance, btw.

The group has taken a wonderful and direct approach to dealing with reduced funding in the recession. Right after the curtain call, a cast member quickly and informally addressed the audience, and explained that due to reduced funding and sponsorship, they were $7,000 short of meeting expenses for the production and asked for contributions from the audience. He noted that if they collected $350 each night for the remainder of the run, they would meet the goal. As the audience exited, cast members were in the lobby holding their hats out, reminiscent of the company’s free Summer performances in the parks.

Today by phone I leaned from John Bradshaw, managing director, that this appeal was enormously successful, and they were averaging $750 per performance from the 197 seat house.

Amidst all the discussion and speculation about new models for arts nonprofits, this simple and direct action seems noteworthy. I wonder how it would play out at the opera? – Tommer