Atlanta Lyric Theatre Seeks Financial Support

The Atlanta Lyric Theatre, which has made its home at the since December 2008, is seeking additional financial support.

Artistic Director and General Manager Brandt Blocker issued an appeal for support, referencing after 30 years of productions.

"We need financial support from our audience to avoid a similar fate," Brandt said in an email. "In order to produce full-scale, professional musical theatre, we rely on the generous donations of individuals, corporations and foundations."

While ticket sales for the Atlanta Lyric's productions have been strong and are continuing to improve, revenue from ticket sales pays for less than half of the theater's expenses, and revenue from grants and gifts has been declining.

To date, the Lyric is down about $225,000 from its fundraising goal, The Marietta Daily Journal reports.

Prior to the theater's move to the Strand, the Lyric had about 270 subscribers. Now it has more than 1,600. When the Lyric first moved to the Strand it averaged less than 130 people a night in the 531-seat theater, The Marietta Daily Journal reports. Now the the theater averages over 50 percent capacity.

The Lyric's five-year contract with the Strand runs through Aug. 31, 2013, The MDJ says.