February 20, 2003

Seattle's ACT Theater is in a deep financial crisis, and would have had to close indefinitely tomorrow due to $1.7 million in debts. The ACT board ponied up $40,000 of their own money to extend the deadline by 1 month, giving them that long to raise the funds.

According to [board member Alan] Rappoport, some potential donors of large sums have told board members they need to see "a solid reorganization plan for ACT," as well as a "groundswell" of local support from other sources, before committing their own funds to the ailing theater.

I still have a $100 gift certificate for the ACT. Should I try to use it while the ACT is still around, or should I not use it and consider it a donation?

comments...

Charles, February 20, 2003 6:03 AM:

Just don't use the tix to see the Reduced Shakespeare Company. They totally ripped off their entire shtick from Duck's Breath Mystery Theater's famous routine "Cliff's Notes Hamlet" and never even acknowledged their inspiration.

BTW, have you EVER heard of a theater company raising a million in a month? They're history.

Jeff Seifert, February 20, 2003 9:09 AM:

If you use the gift certificate and are not taking up a seat which would have otherwise been sold (say, for a weekday performance), then they're not benefitting any more than if you didn't go at all. They've got their $100 already, so not going to a show won't get them any closer to paying off their debt.