Seattle Shakespeare Company Finishes 10th Straight Season with a Balanced Budget

After finalizing the financial records for Seattle Shakespeare Company's 20th anniversary season, Managing Director John Bradshaw announced today that the company finished its 10th year in a row with a balanced budget. "We take enormous pride in artistic work, but also I our ongoing fiscal responsibility, which is a tribute to our board, staff, and supporters," said Bradshaw. Over the past eight years Seattle Shakespeare Company's budget has more than tripled, and the company continues to operate debt free.

Last season's production of Hamlet set new attendance and sales records for Seattle Shakespeare Company. The company took a risk by producing for the first time at the Intiman Playhouse, and that production of The Threepenny Opera broke the previous records during its three-week run. "Our season ticket sales are also on the rise again for the third year in a row," said Bradshaw. "We fully expect this season's subscription sales to surpass our goal."

Seattle Shakespeare Company served more than 53,000 people in 2010-2011, an increase of 11% from the previous year. The company's programs include indoor productions, outdoor Wooden O performances, state-wide touring, and a range of in-school residencies.

In June, Seattle Shakespeare Company received a grant from the Washington Women's Foundation to support the development of Regional Shakespeare Alliances. The $85,000, which will be distributed over three years, will help fund grassroots community organizing to build upon the company's successful 90-minute Shakespeare productions that tour to schools and communities across the state. The "Shakespeare Hubs" in select areas of the state will evolve with the input of local schools, funders and leaders. Seattle Shakespeare Company aims to partner with communities who wish to establish sustainable efforts to ensure their students will have classical theatre and educational support programs well into the future.

"Our 20th anniversary season was quite a thrill ride," said Bradshaw. "And the future is bright for the company. We're just so grateful and excited to serve the people of this state and that more and more people are enjoying great classical theatre."

 

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