arts & life

theater

A

P ea For Help

Sandra Birch

and John

Seibert in Who's

Afraid of Virginia

Woolf?

Suzanne Chessler I Contributing Writer

Ann Arbor's Performance

Network Theatre is in

danger of closing.

See why — and how

JN readers can help.

D

avid Herzig, active in the Ann
Greater Ann Arbor, points out that there
Arbor Jewish community, also has have been co-productions with the Jewish
been a longtime supporter of the
Ensemble Theatre just as there have been
Performance Network Theatre (PNT) in the with the Williamston Theatre.
city and adds his voice to the accompany-
The goal was establishing quality pro-
ing letter (see "Yours in the Arts")
ductions regardless of religious
seeking financial help to keep the
aspects. Among the Jewish-themed
stage company running.
productions have been Other Desert
"I like the concept of having
Cities and My Name Is Asher Lev.
professional theater locally:' says
"It's a struggle, but all arts-
Herzig, a 10-year member of
presenting organizations are strug-
the board of directors who has
gling; Herzig says. "No arts orga-
offered similar leadership to the
nization can raise more than 40-50
University Musical Society.
percent of costs by ticket sales;
Herzig, whose professional
David He rzig
these are numbers I've gotten from
interests place him as a mentor
Michael Kaiser, who was with the
for startup companies, was involved in the
Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
decision-making that closed theater opera-
"We all have a limited number of seats
tions over a year ago. He says the shutdown we can sell, and we can't charge New York
happened as unpaid bills came to the atten- prices. Every arts organization that I know
tion of the board.
of around the United States has to exist
"We were approached by John Manfredi,
on donations from people willing to put
who has had a lot of experience in turning
money into keeping it alive:'
theaters around, and he gave us a business
Manfredi, named executive director,
plan that looked reasonable:' Herzig says.
operates with three instead of 11 employ-
"We've got it up and running, and we
ees, puts together plays with limited cast
ran all last season meeting our obligations.
numbers and keeps the costs of scenery
The problem now is convincing the public
very low, according to Herzig.
that we really are viable and moving ahead.
"We hope the community is under-
That's part of what the letter is about:'
standing with what they can gain from
Herzig, who has been a member of Beth
Performance Network:' he says. "We hope
Israel Congregation and served in leader-
they will continue to step forward and help
ship roles with the Jewish Federation of
us:' *

Yours In The Arts

On Oct. 15, the Performance Network
Theatre issued this letter:

Friends and Supporters of the
Performance Network:
We need your help. Due to immedi-
ate cash flow constraints, we are sadly
in danger of closing. On the heels of
a truly tremendous start to our 2015-
2016 season, earning public and criti-
cally acclaimed artistic success, this is
not a flag we want to wave. Yet, wave
it we must.
We need the community's affirma-
tion, support and financial help. Like
all nonprofits, Performance Network
needs donations to thrive. Absent your
generous donation today, it might be
curtains for the Network.
Under a new executive and creative
leadership team, the new Network
has offered 250+ performance days,
partnerships with the Ann Arbor Film
Festival, University of Michigan Penny
Stamps School of Art and Design, a
Youth Summer Camp recently featured
on PBS, nominations for industry
awards in the state of Michigan, and
generated over $250,000, farm to table,
right here in our local economy.
As a revered cultural icon, we hope
that the Network means as much to
this community as Ann Arbor means to
us. Countless supporters have attended
shows and given to recent campaigns
for donations. Even so, our challenge
is that donations at the Network are
down 2/ this year. The Network needs
donations to survive. Cultural institu-
tions rarely, if ever, exist on ticket rev-
enue alone.
We hope to continue to offer you the
professional, high-quality theater that
closely rivals any Broadway production
right here in your backyard. We will
endeavor to ensure the Network's vital-
ity by continuing to offer readings of
new works, musical events, film festivals
and holiday shows in addition to a full
theatre season. Our 2015-2016 season
opened to rave reviews with Edward
Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
(pntheatre.org/news-reviewstheatre).
Will you join us? Performance
Network needs to generate $50,000 [by
Thanksgiving Day]. If having a local
company continue to produce and
create jobs in Michigan is important to
you, act now.
There is no better time to help. Please
go to pntheatre.org/donate to make a
donation today or call us at (734) 663-
0681.

Yours in the Arts,

John Manfredi, Executive Director

Suzi Regan, Artistic Director

November 5 •2015 39