A record breaking season and Broken Record campaign at Performance Network

Posted: Aug. 31, 2012 at 6:55 a.m.

ANN ARBOR - In its 2011/2012 season, Performance Network Theatre broke all of previous attendance records for both single tickets and season subscriptions, making it the most successful season in Performance Network's history. This comes on the heels of its 2010-2011 season, which broke all previous attendance records.

However, as with many other arts organizations this year, Ann Arbor's professional theater is working hard just to keep donations at the same level as in previous years. Performance Network is celebrating its record-breaking season by introducing the "Broken Record" fundraising campaign to try and match this outstanding accomplishment in donations.

"The impetus of the campaign came from the idea that we feel like we are constantly reminding people that as a non-profit, only 50 percent of our operating costs are covered by ticket sales, and that we need their renewed donations year after year in order to keep our production quality high - and you begin to feel like a broken record. That combined with the outstanding season that we just finished and our record breaking ticket sales compared to a lower level of giving to date this year, the name just seemed like a natural fit," said managing director Erin Sabo.

In order to generate enough funds to help support what Performance Network is hoping will be another record breaking year, a goal of $65,000 has been set to help make up the difference in a year in which giving was unusually low compared to the success of the productions. Patrons of the arts are encouraged to give via the box office at 734-663-0681 or online at www.performancenetwork.org.

Many special fundraising efforts are planned as a part of the Broken Record Campaign. The annual fall fundraiser, "Dream Cast" on Sept. 15 (tickets available here) and a benefit performance of "The Glass Menagerie" on Oct. 26 (tickets available here), are all part of the effort to make up the funds.

Performance Network is also encouraging donors to learn about the other programs that their donations will help to fund like the Children’s Theatre Network (click here for informations), Fireside Festival of New Works (click here for informations), Cultural Conversations (click here for informations), and the Mosh Pit Series.

"We have been working around the clock to get both our professional series and our other programming ready to wow more audiences, reach more people, and inspire our community and we wish those things could happen for free but the reality is that in a non-profit theater it takes a village to raise a curtain and so we are turning to our neighbors for help," said Sabo.

A visual of the progress that the campaign is making will be placed in the window on the Huron Street side of the venue enabling supporters to see how their gifts have impacted the broken record.

In addition, Performance Network is proud to announce the release of single ticket purchases for the 2012-2013 Great American Theatre Season. Sept. 27 launches a diverse season that both celebrates our cultural history and explores current social topics. Each performance is rooted in American history and or issues and holds true to the Performance Network's mission to "engage, challenge, and inspire audiences and artists."