They're still closing...I'd wager money on that one.
But, The Wisconsin State Journal reports that they are actually looking for that BAILOUT kind of thing I was talking about. They're not humbling themselves they way I think they should with a big, balls to the wall, wailing to the community-at-large. They're being a bit more discreet about it. I'll help them be loud mouthed.
Madison Rep needs $50,000 by February 1 or they close their doors. If you're so inclined, send them money. Here's their address:
Madison Repertory Theater
1 South Pinckney Street, LL100
Madison, WI 53703
They'll also take your money on-line by clicking this link.
I think they will close because they say that they need another $300,000 in the coming couple of months. If, and this is a big IF, they really, really want to stay open, it would make sense to me to really slow down the ship and make some tough decisions. Cut the remainder of the season. Put together a restructuring plan. Do a detailed 3 year budget that projects real doom and gloom. If some of those things happen, maybe, maybe, maybe, Madison Rep has a chance of making it. Maybe they then need another $50,000 instead of $300,000. I don't know. I'm not close enough to it, of course. I'm just a blogger some I get to offer oodles of uniformed opinions.
More than anything hard charging responsible change would show our community (and fresh from an Obama inaugural address, I consider our community to be the world) that the folks behind Madison Rep are so serious about keeping the thing alive that they'll painfully tough choices to do it. I know they've already made a lot of tough ones with big staff cuts, but now it's zero hour. Now the really hard work begins.
They've got my check coming. I may be a dummy to do it, but at least I'm given the option to help make a difference in this case.
2 smart alecky remarks:
If someone needs $50,000 now and $300,000 later, then they clearly aren't willing to make the kind of reforms that are necessary to create a sustainable theatre company these days.
If they aren't being very public with their begging, it's probably because they're afraid of the backlash that'll come from everyone who gives them $50,000 now only to watch them fold soon after anyway. A backlash that would be totally justified, and that cements the negative public perceptions of theatre.
Please, people, give your money to a smaller company. One where it'll go a lot further (insurgent could run DECADES on $50,000) and one that's already adapted to more sustainable practices.
I wrote a bit about this earlier in the week: http://77square.com/arts/theater/story_433765.
Lots of interesting comments about the situation after the story, too.
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