Gamm Theatre Wraps 2012-13 Season with Record Sales
By: Tyler Peterson Aug. 01, 2013
Artistic Director Tony Estrella has announced that The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (The Gamm) has closed its 2012-2013 season with the highest ticket sales in its 28-season history, and a balanced operating budget for the fiscal year ending June 30.
Overall ticket sales increased by 22%. Season subscriptions increased by 21% and houses sold to anaverage ticket capacity of 91%, contributing to projected year-end revenues 5.9% higher than the previous season. Significantly, early tickets sales for the U.S. premiere of Anne Boleyn necessitated an extension on opening night. The show went on to break all previous box office records.
Gamm Artistic Director Tony Estrella called Season 28 "a record year at the box office and, more importantly, our strongest year on stage with five varied but equally powerful and provocative shows. Amy Herzog's After the Revolution moved us during the throes of a contentious federal election with a deeply personal and powerfully political work. That was followed by a Rhode Island premiere, Red, and a U.S. premiere, Anne Boleyn, both playing to largely sold-out houses. We finished with two modern masterpieces, Tom Stoppard's gorgeous The Real Thing and Martin McDonagh's hilarious, shocking and deeply moving The Beauty Queen of Leenane.
"I could not be more proud of our entire organization from the board, to the artists and staff and, of course, our supporters whose tireless passion helped close The Gamm's first decade in Pawtucket in such a powerful fashion. It's a great energy to kick start our upcoming 29th season."
Managing Director David Wax echoed Estrella, noting that "the 2012-13 Season, my first as managing director, will be hard to match. The Gamm's productions have become stronger each year, and this season was certainly the strongest yet. This growth was recognized by our audiences who flocked to our productions in unprecedented numbers.
"Also unprecedented was the growth in our service to the community through our education programs, reaching out to every public elementary school classroom in Pawtucket in addition to 10-week residencies at the elementary, junior and senior high-school levels," Wax added. "These accomplishments are a result of serious effort and extraordinary commitment on the part of all who work on behalf of the theater, from the board of directors to the volunteer ushers. I eagerly await the upcoming season and anticipate continuing success under the strong leadership of Tony Estrella."
Founded in 1984 as Alias Stage, the non-profit Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre creates the finest of live theater, engaging the audience intensely in current and recurrent issues of consequence. The Gamm further serves the public with educational outreach programming designed to support the theatrical experience, and help sustain and enhance the intellectual and cultural life of its community. The Gamm is a member of New England Area Theatre (NEAT), a bargaining unit of the Actors' Equity Association.
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