ldoto
Dec 10, 2009, 5:21 PM
Grand Theatre posts surplus
The city’s theatre had its largest-ever subscription jump in the last 20 years, said the Grand’s executive director Deb Harvey.
“We were in a really tough year last year, and we knew we couldn’t be successful without our subscribers and without increasing our subscribers,” Harvey said.
“We did that mainly through audience development. Many of our subscribers were aged 60 and older and the rate of subscription had declined.”
The theatre simultaneously amped up its push for subscriptions while providing its largest-ever playbill budget, Harvey said.
“We will have a surplus of $96,000,” she said.
There were 1,650 new subscribers in the last year, bringing the total number to 6,000.
The production of Grease was sold out and this year’s Wizard of Oz is on track to bring in $1 million.
“Our singular message was to get out to our subscribers and new subscribers and to tell them we need them,” Harvey said.
“Now we have to keep those new subscribers and we need to increase fundraising.”
There is $500,000 for the Grand Theatre in this year’s city budget, Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco Best noted.
“The Grand is an organization culturally to which others should aspire,” said Controller Gord Hume.
“We’re fortunate in London to have you.”
The city’s theatre had its largest-ever subscription jump in the last 20 years, said the Grand’s executive director Deb Harvey.
“We were in a really tough year last year, and we knew we couldn’t be successful without our subscribers and without increasing our subscribers,” Harvey said.
“We did that mainly through audience development. Many of our subscribers were aged 60 and older and the rate of subscription had declined.”
The theatre simultaneously amped up its push for subscriptions while providing its largest-ever playbill budget, Harvey said.
“We will have a surplus of $96,000,” she said.
There were 1,650 new subscribers in the last year, bringing the total number to 6,000.
The production of Grease was sold out and this year’s Wizard of Oz is on track to bring in $1 million.
“Our singular message was to get out to our subscribers and new subscribers and to tell them we need them,” Harvey said.
“Now we have to keep those new subscribers and we need to increase fundraising.”
There is $500,000 for the Grand Theatre in this year’s city budget, Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco Best noted.
“The Grand is an organization culturally to which others should aspire,” said Controller Gord Hume.
“We’re fortunate in London to have you.”