Long Wharf Theatre Reports $1.2 Million Deficit

According to a report on the Hartford Courant, New Haven's Long Wharf Theatre has revealed a $1.2 million deficit due, of course, to the economic downturn that began last fall.

In an effort to prevent the theater from free-falling, new managing director Ray Cullom was brought in last May to launch a new fundraising program this summer.  Callum was successful in bringing in "cash reserve funds from donors and foundations to maintain cash flow and pay bills," according to the Courant.  Another broad strokes change included scaling back the 2009-2010 season budget from from $6.2 million to $5.2 million in an effort achieve "break-even or better" results. Staff cuts have also been made, in addition to cuts in executive salaries.

Callum anticipates a 3-4 year time frame in which to pay off the debt.

Things seem to be looking up, as the summer line up of "Menopause the Musical," "The One-Man Star Wars Trilogy" and "My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm in Therapy" over-performed financially, however the much anticipated plans to move forward with a new $50 million complex in downtown New Haven have been temporarily tabled.

To read the full report in the Hartford Courant, click here.

The 2009-10 season at the Long Wharf includes "The Fantasticks" Oct. 7; followed by the world premiere of Athol Fugard's "Have You Seen Us?" starring Sam Waterston; the world premiere of "Lil's 90th" with Lois Smith; A.R. Gurney's comedy "Sylvia;" the solo show "No Child..." written by and starring Nilaja Sun; and a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House."