2-13-09
Madison Rep: Save Our Season
Fully Committedis the name of the first show in Madison Repertory’s 2008/2009 season. It opened the week Alan Greenspan realized he was wrong about free market economics. Now, it is a description of the Madison Rep board, which is scrambling to stabilize the 40-year-old institution after empty early season houses and corporate jitters put it on the brink of closing down.
The theatre put an urgent plea on its website late last month to raise $50,000 so it can continue its current season. That figure, according to former board president and executive committee member Jon Furlow, does not cover the Rep’s total budget shortfall—only what it will need in operating expenses.
“Like most non-profit theatres, over half of our ongoing operations rely upon funding by corporate and individual contributions,” said the statement on madisonrep.org. “The effects of the recent economic crisis have eroded our finances to the point that operations going forward are in jeopardy.”
While Furlow could not say for certain what the fate of the Rep will be, he is optimistic that the theatre’s pleas were heard.
“There is what I would call a positive plan out there,” Furlow said.
While the bottom dropped out during the fall, Furlow said the Rep has had a very successful subscription sales effort this season, and “remarkably strong sales” for Bus Stop, which just closed Feb. 1. Still, he said the board is not counting on contributions turning around anytime soon.
“Companies are looking at the difference between continuing charitable giving and making layoffs,” said Furlow. “They’re probably going to discontinue charitable giving.”
The Rep laid off six people at the end of last year, leaving them with a very lean 7-person staff.
“The issue is, how nimble can you be so you can move forward,” Furlow said.
The Madison Rep board will meet Feb. 19 to assess its current financial state and make decisions about the rest of the season. Furlow believes that the next production, True West, will go off this season, but it’s likely not to open on time.