Like most businesses, Stolen Chair has to front quite a bit of capital before we can open our doors to the public. At this point in the process, 10 days before opening a new show, we are in the red due to money spent paying our collaborators, renting space, making costumes, building set pieces, and advertising our work. Unfortunately, unlike other businesses who hope to recoup their expenses with the sale of their products, the sale of Stolen Chair’s tickets (capped at $18 each) will only bring in about $8,000. New York State and private foundations help us out a bit, but without your individual contributions we’ll still be in the red. Your tax-deductible donation of $10-$10,000 will give Stolen Chair the greatest holiday gift of all: fiscal solvency.

We’re trying to change the system. Stolen Chair was recently awarded The Economic Revitalization of the Performing Arts grant administered by the Field (with funds from the Rockefeller Foundation) to spend nine months researching and developing a new sustainable and replicable business model for theatres across the country. For the next nine months, however, we’ll be relying on your donations more than ever.

Times are tough and theatre companies are also feeling the squeeze, from lost day-jobs to grant reductions and theatre closures. We know that, for many, now is a perfectly awful time to donate, but for those who feel they have a little to spare, your gift of even $10 can help make sure that companies like Stolen Chair are still around when the good times start rolling again. See you in January at Theatre Is Dead and So Are You!

Please donate today by visiting http://donate.stolenchair.org.

Best wishes for a happy holiday and here’s hoping the new year will bring better tidings to all!

Jon, Kiran, and The Chairs (Aviva, Cameron, David, Emily, & Liza)