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SecondStory Repertory’s $80K Fundraising Effort Passes the Halfway Mark

Donations for Redmond’s Only Professional Theatre Hit $42K, and keep on going. Additional Pledges, In-Kind Support Keep Spirits and Momentum on a Holiday High

REDMOND, WA -- SecondStory Repertory, Redmond's only professional theater company, faces the most severe financial crisis of its decade-long life, but on December 7, 2009 they passed the half way mark for their $80K fundraising goal. Spirits and momentum are on a holiday high; with $42K collected, $12K in pledges, and an overwhelming outpouring of in-kind and volunteer support. The SecondStory staff is hopeful that they will make their December 31^st financial goal so they won't have to shut their doors.

SecondStory Repertory (SSR) board and staff have made a series of difficult decisions and goals in the past few months. One of those goals was to reach the halfway point ($40K) by December 1, 2009. On December 2, 2009, just a few thousand dollars shy of that goal, the board and staff made the difficult decision to cancel the January production of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Almost immediately the phone started ringing as community theatres and volunteers called in to offer help. In six short days amazing strides were made, by a wide variety of sources, to keep SSR’s January programming alive and secure more pledges and donations. On December 7, 2009 the $40K goal was met. However, in lieu of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, the following “PLAN B Programming” will go into effect.

• Seattle-based theater simple will mount five performances of Myth Understandings for SSR subscribers, at SSR, Jan. 15 – 17, 2010. Myth Understandings is a fun, physical, sideways look at familiar myths and fairy tales and their battle to survive in our world of technology; appropriate for ages 5 and up. Single tickets will also be available.
• Village Theatre will offer SSR Children’s Theatre subscribers access to a limited number of tickets for Meet Me in St Louis (Jan 8-10 Everett performances only), and their Pied Piper production of Chasing George Washington at the Everett Event Center.
• Book-It Repertory Theatre's touring arm, Book-It All Over, will produce their own Trickster Tales for the schools that have already booked January student shows at SSR.
• SSR’s talented improv team, Split Second, will produce wonderful, fast-paced comedy in January,

Other in kind support includes:

• Shunpike’s pro bono services assisting in transition team development and strategic counsel.

• SSR’s wonderful volunteers are helping with everything from ushering to PR and legal advice.
• SSR’s Teen Cabaret, “Save SecondStory” is performing their benefit show on Sunday Dec. 13^th at 2pm
• Holy Names Academy is hosting a costume sale to benefit SSR on 12/17.

“I believe in THIS theatre,” says Susanna Wilson, Artistic Director. “I won’t pretend that this fundraising goal is easy. It’s not. But the overwhelming support and outpouring from the local and artistic community gives me hope. It will be down to the wire. I’m sure we’ll be working all through the holidays, but this staff and board will not sit back and watch SSR’s doors close without a fight.”

Caitlin Frances, the Managing Director, and Susanna Wilson, Artistic Director, are still working hard to trim expenses and monitor revenue. The donations come in daily and Caitlin Frances is glued to her calculator. Donations of any amount will gratefully be accepted at http://www.secondstoryrep.org/supportssr/donate.html

ABOUT SECONDSTORY REPERTORY

SecondStory Repertory has produced a full, year-round eclectic season of musicals, comedies, dramas, and children's theater since 1999, all in its intimate, 121-seat theater upstairs in Redmond Town Center . It is much-loved for its musical productions like "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Anything Goes" as well as for its Children's Theatre and educational and outreach programming. It is unique on the Eastside for its location, intimacy, and its dedicated troupe of professional actors, directors and designers. More than 150 productions have been presented at SecondStory to date.