Magic Theater Extends Plea For Support Thru Midnight 1/12
The Magic Theater in San Francisco, a 42-year-old institution that has staged the premieres of works by Sam Shepard, David Mamet, Nilo Cruz and many others, may be on the verge of closing unless the company can raise $350,000 by Midnight, Monday January 12th. The theater's Web site, magictheatre.org is urging audience members to help it survive.
The theater states on its website that, "since its initial appeal nine days ago, San Francisco's nationally acclaimed new plays theatre, MAGIC THEATRE, has raised more than $300,000. MAGIC was just awarded an anonymous challenge grant from a leading national arts supporter to encourage the theatre to meet and exceed its fundraising goal so that Magic has the resources to continue its 43rd season and secure its future. To maximize this challenge, MAGIC has extended its fundraising campaign three days. The challenge will double the impact of contributions up to $100,000 made to MAGIC now through midnight Monday, January 12, 2009.Please donate now to increase the value of your contribution and keep Magic Theatre alive".
With funds raised so far, they have began rehearsals for the next production-Tough Titty by Oni Faida Lampley-slated for previews beginning January 24th. The staff, furloughed for two weeks, is back at work with pay. MAGIC must raise a total of $350,000 by January 12, 2009 to retain the staff, continue the season, and remain responsible to creditors. The new challenge grant is a crucial opportunity for MAGIC to ensure that we have the resources to complete our season and create a plan not just to survive, but thrive.
The Magic is facing a $600,000 debt and is one of a number of regional theaters on the precipice because of the dismal economic climate.
Founded in 1967, Magic Theatre is one of the most preeminent theatres in the nation solely dedicated to development and production of new plays. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Loretta Greco and Managing Director David Jobin, Magic Theatre operates with a budget of $1.9 million in San Francisco's historic Fort Mason Center. Magic Theatre's plays and playwrights have won numerous awards, including Pulitzer Prizes, Kennedy Center Award, NAACP Image Award, Obie Awards, Pen-West Awards, Bay Area Critics' Circle Awards, and Los Angeles Drama-Logue Awards. The list of playwrights whose works have premiered at the Magic reads like a "Who's Who of American Theatre": David Mamet, Sam Shepard, Paula Vogel, Nilo Cruz, Charles Mee, Anne Bogart, and Rebecca Gilman amongst many others. Magic Theatre is instrumental in the development of works throughout the Bay Area, with its Commonwealth Club Reading Series, Magic/Z Space New Works Initiative, Martha Heasley Cox Raw Play Series and its education program Young California Writers Project amongst others.
For more information, visit the Magic Theatre website at www.magictheatre.org.
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