Recession Isn’t Pulling The Curtain Down On Holiday Shows
Filed Under Shower Curtain | Posted on December 9, 2008
There are way too many arts groups producing holiday shows in Minnesota to contact all of them. But, the majority MPR talked to are reporting healthy ticket sales, or at least sales that are meeting expectations.
Some might be taking advantage of special offers or buying closer to the performance date.
Kathy Foran is Executive Director of In the Heart of the Beast Mask and Puppet Theatre in Minneapolis, which is presenting La Natividad for the third year in a row.
St. Paul’s Park Square Theater is offering its first holiday-themed production ever, the one man show “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol.” Park Square’s director of external relations, Michael John Pease, reports it’s been very well received.
Ticket sales for the Guthrie Theater’s venerable “A Christmas Carol” are meeting projections. The same is true for the Ordway Theater’s “White Christmas” extravaganza.
Well attended holiday productions are vital to the bottom lines of arts groups. But foundation grants, corporate gifts and sponsorships and individual donations are what keep most of them afloat. And that’s where the concern comes in.
Carolyn Hiller, executive director of the Choral Arts Ensemble in Rochester, said her group is starting to feel the squeeze from businesses.
Foran said even with strong ticket sales now, if the economy continues down its current path, by this time next year arts groups will truly be suffering.
Tags: arts groups, bottom lines, carol park, choral arts ensemble, christmas carol, christmas extravaganza, first holiday, foundation grants, guthrie theater, heart of the beast, holiday productions, jacob marley, john pease, kathy foran, natividad, ordway theater, puppet theatre, s park, white christmasRelated posts
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