Magic Theatre Surpases Goals; Raises More than $450,000

Magic Theatre announced today that contributions totaling nearly $355,000 have been generated by its emergency fundraising appeal launched this past month. An additional $100,000 will be donated by a leading national supporter of the arts, which offered a matching grant to help secure the Magic's season. The campaign has thus far raised more than $450,000.

"The breadth and depth of support is incredible," said Missy Kirchner, chairman of the Magic's board of directors. "We've received more than 1,100 contributions from 23 states, ranging from $5.00 to $20,000. We needed $350,000 by January 12th to move forward with this season's productions and we made it."

Kirchner said Magic's campaign targeted its board members, subscribers, and institutional supporters but credited the "viral" component for its success. "We furloughed staff because we weren't certain we could pay them," said Kirchner. "But they came in as volunteers and developed a creative fundraising appeal that relied on rallying personal and professional contacts and Facebook communities, along with a video celebrating Magic's 42-year history. Press coverage of our plight and campaign was enormously helpful as well."

The Magic's 2009 season continues on January 24th with the world premiere of Oni Faida Lampley's Tough Titty. "Just a few weeks ago, we weren't certain we'd even begin rehearsals for Tough Titty, let alone produce the other new works slated for this season," said Loretta Greco, the Magic's artistic director. "Getting past this financial crisis makes us appreciate the value and importance of Magic Theatre even more, to be reminded that we are stewards of a rich tradition of developing adventurous new work with an obligation to our past and future patrons, playwrights, and actors. It's an inspiring responsibility."

Kirchner noted that the board will spend the balance of the year sorting through the company's long-term challenges and developing a new financial model to ensure its stability and sustainability. "This experience has been both hard and heartwarming," she said. "Artistically, Magic Theatre is stronger than it has been in many, many years, and that's reflected in the response we received from the Bay Area and around the country. Thanks to such generous, broad-based support, the board now has the opportunity and the time to carefully and thoughtfully prepare plans to move the company forward. We are committed to ensuring that Magic Theatre fulfills its mission - to bring new plays and young playwrights to the stage for generations to come."

Founded in 1967, Magic Theatre is one of the preeminent theatres in the nation solely dedicated to the development and production of new plays. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Loretta Greco, Magic Theatre operates with a budget of $1.65 million in San Francisco's historic Fort Mason Center. Magic Theatre's plays and playwrights have won numerous awards, including Pulitzer Prizes, Kennedy Center Award, NAACP Image Award, Obie Awards, Pen-West Awards, Bay Area Critics' Circle Awards, and Los Angeles Drama-Logue Awards. The list of playwrights whose works have premiered at the Magic reads like a "Who's Who of American Theatre": David Mamet, Sam Shepard, Paula Vogel, Nilo Cruz, Charles Mee, Anne Bogart, and Rebecca Gilman among many others. For more information, visit the Magic Theatre website at www.magictheatre.org.