Business & Tech

Theatre in the Square Seeks Help

Take a closer look at the financial situation of Theatre in the Square, the impact it has on Marietta Square, its fundraising efforts and cuts made to the theater. Tell us about your best memories of the theater.

As most residents know, , which has been a part of Marietta Square for 30 years, is in trouble. The theater has until March 16 to raise $60,000 to keep key vendors from shutting them down, the Marietta Daily Journal reported on Feb. 28.

Upcoming Fundraiser Events

A part of the effort to save the theater the is hosting an event in conjunction with the opening of the production Flying West. Join the Wine Market Wednesday night and meet the playwright for Flying West, enjoy a wine tasting from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and see Flying West at Theatre in the Square at 8 p.m. 

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Share your favorite Theatre in the Square memories with us, and tell us how you feel about the theater possibly shutting down for good.

The Problem

The theater needs to raise an additional , in order to finish its 30th season in May and open the 2012-2013 season in the Fall of 2012, according to the Theatre in the Square website. 

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The theater owes its landlord, Councilman Philip Goldstein, more than $125,000 in back rent, the MDJ says.

Ticket sales at the nonprofit theater, , have . Because of the theater's nonprofit status, in the last three years. 

Overall, the theater needs $750,000 to pay off its vendor debt, finish the current season and ensure the next season of performances, according to the website. As of February 1, the theater had raised $327,863. 

Come June 30, the theater can then take the revenue from the season ticket sales of 2013 and use those funds to continue operations.

Fundraising Efforts

An when producing director and co-founder Palmer Wells noted that the theater was on the brink of financial disaster. The theater announced a necessary for survival. The first goal, to secure $350,000 by December 31, 2011, to ensure the current season would be completed, .

Phase Two of the campaign is the effort to raise .

Cuts to the Theater

Over the past two years, the group has by 20 percent. In additional cuts to managerial overhead, Theatre in the Squareʼs producing director and co-founder Palmer Wells has agreed to . 

Should We Care?

Theatre in the Square provides . 

The theater welcomes over 45,000 people through its doors each year and represents a $785,000 economic impact on . Approximately, when they see a show at the theater, which performs every day but Monday. 

Do you care that Theatre in the Square may close its doors?


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