Over the last half year, I’ve been asked one question repeatedly: “How is Cal Shakes doing in this economy?” The short answer: We’re down—but not even close to out.
While many respected theaters were shaken to their foundations in 2009, Cal Shakes has been preparing to put in new foundations, as part of a comprehensive plan to renovate the Bruns Amphitheater. At the same time, we are continuing our vitally important annual fundraising to support the work we do on stage, in classrooms, and with underserved communities. Both ticket sales and donations—from individuals, grant funders, and corporate sources—have fallen this year. Since donations supply more than half of our annual budget, we urgently need your support to continue creating high-quality productions and reaching thousands of youth annually through classes, camps, and special student matinees. We must raise $73,240 before the end of the year to meet our goals.
We know our work makes a difference, because you tell us so. “It is such a blessing to have Cal Shakes, as a community, in our lives and in our daughter’s life,” wrote Cheryl Perko, the parent of a camper. “I know my daughter cannot even imagine a summer without Cal Shakes.” After seeing our production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, patron Daniel Seda wrote us to say, “I was amazed and literally shaken by this accessible, relevant, and fun performance. The entire experience: theater, cast, and interpretation made me fall in love with Shakespeare yet again. … I am inspired and maybe even spoiled by Cal Shakes' engaging production.”
We’ve got so much more in store for you—but we can’t make it happen without your help. We’re ready to debut our first-ever world premiere next spring: a new play by Octavio Solis based on John Steinbeck’s Pastures of Heaven. Timothy Near is slated to return to direct Shaw’s trenchant Mrs. Warren’s Profession; Joel Sass is planning a sure-to-be distinctive take on one of Shakespeare’s greatest works, Macbeth; and I’ll round out the season by directing Much Ado About Nothing.
We urgently need your help to bring these great plays to you, and to continue our work in schools and underserved communities. Please help us meet our goal and click here to make a contribution today. Gifts of $100 or more qualify you for terrific membership benefits. But more importantly, your donations help ensure that
Cal Shakes will continue to enrich our community for years to come.
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Sincerely,
Jonathan Moscone, Artistic Director