Setting the stage for an extraordinary future

Last spring the board and staff of Penobscot Theatre Company launched our Extraordinary Friends Campaign for one reason: We wanted to keep our doors open so we could continue to serve this area with high-quality, professional theater and educational programs.

The community and its business leaders responded, and by the end of August we’d raised $241,000 of our projected $250,000 goal – enough to keep the theater alive. We are so grateful.

Now, four months later, I see that this campaign – and the circumstances that made it a necessity – served several important purposes beyond our immediate goal. First, it cast the spotlight on this community’s generosity and commitment to the arts. We appreciate this support and affirmation that professional theater is indeed a vital part of the growing cultural center we enjoy here in Bangor.

Next, this campaign – and the need for it – compelled us to look both backward and forward. We looked back and saw some things we needed to do differently, and so we made some difficult decisions. We cut both our staff and our production schedule, including the Maine Shakespeare Festival. We replaced several large-cast, multi-set works with more intimate pieces, and went about actively seeking a buyer for the small theater at 183 Main St. with plans to put proceeds of this sale into a capital reserve fund. We have already moved our offices, along with all of our productions, into one building: the Bangor Opera House.

Now, we are looking forward. Thanks to all of our extraordinary friends, we have an opportunity not only to stay alive, but to come back better and stronger, and we’ve been working hard toward that end. We’ve formed a strategic financial planning committee to develop a new financial direction and a board development committee, which is seeking out new members with fund-raising and financial planning experience. We have also begun to place a portion of our ticket sales and contributions into an operating reserve account. Once our reserves are stable, we will kick off a capital campaign to renovate the Opera House and to establish an endowment.

Penobscot Theatre Company has been through a tough time. But we are alive and well, and we remain committed to building a strong foundation for the future so that we can produce excellent theatre for the people of this community for many years to come. Our thanks to everyone who helped us stay alive and move ahead – and to everyone who will continue to support us as we grow and change for the better.

Mark Torres is producing artistic director of Penobscot Theatre Company.