Summer's almost here — help the ISC fill it with warriors and witches!
May 20, 2010
Dear friends of the Ithaca Shakespeare Company,
I'm writing to thank you for being part of our e-mail family, and to express our hope that you can help us make 2010 our most successful summer thus far.
This is an exciting time for Ithaca Shakespeare. Nearly 3,000 people came to see our production of A Midsummer Night's Dream last year, with some performances drawing as many as 600 people. And so far, it looks like interest in our summer 2010 production of Macbeth will be even greater.
We're not resting on our laurels after last year. Our upcoming production of Macbeth is going to be our biggest show ever, featuring:
- the largest cast we've ever had — more than 30 actors!
- a raised stage, to ensure that every audience member has a great view of the action
- several "living environments" at the performance site that will allow us to immerse the audience in the world of the play like never before
- an evocative "ruined castle" set
- spectacular swordfights and battle scenes
We've also got several exciting things on our horizon for the near future:
- Our first indoor production since 2002 — coming this fall/winter
- An invitation to travel to India in 2011, to present workshops on Shakespeare and develop a joint production with Indian artists and university students
In order to make these things happen, though, we need your help. As much as 90% of the funding for our productions comes directly from our supporters and audience members. We are "Community-Supported Theatre" in the fullest sense. And every contribution, no matter how big or small, can help.
If everyone on this mailing list made a donation of just $20 or more,
that would enable us to meet our needs for this production!
(Of course, if you can give more than $20, please don't hesitate...)
Your contributions will help us continue to make exciting, inexpensive classical theatre available to everyone. Click on the link below to make a quick, secure donation on our website, with support options available for all budgets:
You'll also find instructions for making a contribution by check, if you prefer.
Our goal is to present Shakespeare in a way that can appeal to viewers of all ages and backgrounds. Our approach to the plays and our beautiful outdoor setting are ideal for introducing children to Shakespeare, while reacquainting parents and caregivers with the plays and providing a magical experience for all our viewers. Audience members come from all around Ithaca and the surrounding region, from across New York State, and beyond. And where else can you see theatre professionals, community members, and students and staff from Cornell, Ithaca College, and other area schools working together to create great theatre?
We are truly grateful for the support and enthusiasm of our audiences, and we hope you'll join us in creating something amazing in Ithaca!
With all best wishes,
Stephen Ponton
Artistic Director
P.S. If you know someone else who might be interested in helping to support the Ithaca Shakespeare Company, please forward this message to them. Thank you once again for your continued support of our work!
THE ITHACA SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
828 Dryden Rd · Ithaca, NY 14850
Web: http://ithacashakespeare.org · E-mail: info@ithacashakespeare.org