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Dear Friends:
Welcome to 2009. With the upcoming inauguration and economic news swirling around us, it promises to be a most fascinating year! 2008 showed what a Company of committed artist managers can do, when backed by friends, companies and foundations who share ideals.
Together we undertook a major capital campaign and inaugurated the new Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre with a world premiere. We extended our season to more performances across more months than ever, and sent Hamlet on a national Equity tour that brought Shakespeare’s masterpiece to several thousand people in venues across the country.
Topping it all off, in November we celebrated the 20th Anniversary Fall Festival of Shakespeare, loosing the passion and energy of a new generation into Founders’ Theatre. When everybody says the Guitar Hero and web generation doesn’t get Shakespeare, we brought 500 teenagers to their feet in a romping, stomping celebration of his 400 year old canon. If we could put their energy into a barrel, we’d put big oil out of business!
In just a few days, Elizabeth Aspenlieder steps into the high heels of Haley Walker in the final show of our 2008-2009 season, Bad Dates, a comedy written by Theresa Rebeck—one of the freshest playwrights working in American theatre today. (Click here for more about Bad Dates)
Looking ahead to 2009, the present economy has steep challenges, and though conventional wisdom says downsize, we’re planning more programs than ever. As the year unfolds, you can expect more Shakespeare plays than ever, more new works by award-winning writers that take on real issues in today’s terms, and more free shows to bring people together. for more about
Counting on the wisdom gained from 30 years, we’ll stretch our resources, strengthen our strengths, and, as always, keep tickets affordable for everyone. The vitality of our company depends on bringing everyone through the door.
We need your support now more than ever. Help us defy the pessimism and make 2009 a year that stands out in American theatre. Let’s turn the tide, raise our voices, bring laughter to the rafters and take language, learning and self-discovery onward, not backward into the bunker!
Please contribute whatever you can to our year end campaign by January 15th, knowing that when expectations dropped, you stood up and were counted. Please continue to pass our message on to everyone you know who shares these ideals.
Thank you, best wishes, and get ready for great programs in 2009!
Tina Packer,
Founding Artistic Director
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