This just in from Shakespeare by the Sea Producing Artistic Director Lisa Coffi:

“Shakespeare by the Sea had a fantastic summer—great weather, beautiful settings and three blockbuster shows. Thanks to audience members like you, almost 23,000 people attended—breaking previous records.

I’ve spent the last six weeks finishing up all the paperwork, compiling reports, and going through questionnaire responses. When all is said and done, more people attended, we scored higher on overall enjoyment, but unfortunately, ended up roughly $30K short on making our 2008 budget.

Hundreds of people approach me each season and ask why SBTS doesn’t charge admission. My response is that SBTS is for everyone—for those who can and for those who would otherwise be unable to afford it. Think about it. When money is a little tight, taking your friends and family to a play is the last thing on your “to do” list. But when it’s free, the performance and the experience make for a nice respite.

We’ve got just three short months to raise the $30K in funding we need to cover our deficit and be in the black as we enter 2009. So we’re launching a “Demolish Our $30K Deficit” fundraising campaign.

You can help us demolish our deficit by donating today and becoming a member of our BIG FISH FAMILY.

Please take a moment to donate—any amount makes a difference.”

To donate, visit Shakespeare by the Sea’s website.

Tags: DEMOLISH THE DEFICIT, GOOD CAUSES, Shakespeare by the Sea