Behind the Curtain Banter: Bernie and Margaret’s Year-End Check In
Dramatis Personae
Margaret: Executive Director. Talks constantly. Thinks everyone is interested in financial details. More enthusiastic than anyone should be. Libra.
Bernie: Artistic Director. Calming and supportive. Thoughtful and laughs easily. Don’t piss him off. Gemini.
Margaret picks up the phone.
Bernie (singing tunelessly): Year-end check in!
Margaret (singing tunelessly): Year-end check in!
Bernie: How we doin’?
Margaret: Really good, actually. 2024 grants are written and we’re preparing year-end financials to prepare SCFD in a few weeks. City of Aurora, Rose Foundation, Sheila Fortune Foundation, CCI, we love them all!
Bernie: Amazing.
Margaret: And we are about 2 weeks away from closing on the building.
Bernie: Oh my god, we’ve been trying to buy this building for YEARS!
Margaret: Right?! We were going to close in 2020. Stupid Covid.
Bernie: So, when should we announce our capital campaign?
Margaret: Um…now?
Bernie: Now!
Margaret: I wanna get one of those big fundraising thermometers in the lobby.
Bernie: Shaped like a martini glass!
Margaret: Totally!! Our total goal – which includes a new roof and the redo rake for the Nickelson – is $1 million.
Bernie: I can’t wait to do that rake. Patrons mention how hard it is to see the stage in almost every survey. Changing the angle of the audience will make all the difference.
Margaret: Some days $1 million feels completely doable and some days it feels impossible.
Bernie: So…doable with a lot of work and a lot of help!
Margaret: Absolutely. We’ve already raised $162,000 for the building over the last few years.
Bernie: And that’s in addition to the amazing year we had with individual donations this year for our general operating costs.
Margaret: And I’m starting off our pledging with $1000/year for the 10 years of the Promissory Note. So, that counts as another $10k, right?
Bernie: Absolutely! Amazing.
Margaret: So that’s 17% to kick us off. We’ll do a big announcement in the New Year.
Bernie: And ask if any of our fabulous patrons want to be on the fundraising committee.
Margaret: And have a big gala!!
Bernie: With streamers!
Margaret: Okay, whatta you got? You talk now.
Bernie: Yeah, we had a great year!
Margaret: AMBITIOUS year! I mean The Inheritance alone…That was the best show ever, Bernie. Just brilliant.
Bernie: I thought I was talking.
Margaret: Right, sorry!
Bernie: And, thank you. But all of our shows were really successful! In the Heights was fabulous and sold out the whole run.
Margaret: So did Sophisticated Ladies, and The Roommate,
Bernie: and Driving Miss Daisy, and Tick, Tick, Boom!
Margaret: Amazing! And then our summer programming with Frog & Toad and Little Mermaid – Oh my god, you saw how cute my kid was, right? Here…here, look, I’m sending you a photo.
Bernie: And then a great start to 23-24 season with Cabaret and Cadillac Crew. I’m loving the new directors this year.
Margaret: Oh my goodness, me too! What a great way to start the new season. How on earth did we have enough energy to do all of that?
Bernie: We have amazing people. Biz and Jen and Robby and Luke and Heather and Beth are fabulous as always, and the awesome bartenders…and Michael O’Shea and all the cabaret performers, and Kenya with House of Poetry.
Margaret: And our newest staff, our new Front of House Megan Komar, and our new Marketing Manager, Woodzick. We really do get to work with the best people.
Bernie: Who’s Holiday is doing really well again this year.
Margaret: 3rd year! I love that has become a bit of a tradition.
Bernie: I’m still so sad we weren’t able to do Black Nativity.
Margaret: I’m just heartbroken. But, theatre is hard. I feel like every show that opens is an absolute miracle. Especially now. I mean we’re still not done with Covid.
Bernie: Well, it’s not done with us. So…onward!
Margaret: You mentioned announcing the next season a little earlier in the year. Is that still the plan? Are we going with April 27?
Bernie: Yes. That Saturday night is just before Spelling Bee opens and we can have a big party.
Margaret: Amazing. What do you need from me?
Bernie: Oh, nothing. I’m always open to suggestions of course – especially for new works and works by people of color. I’m still working on discovering new plays.
Margaret: Are you planning to continue 50% by people of color and/or LGBTQIA+?
Bernie: That’s definitely still the plan. And balance new titles with familiar titles.
Margaret: And something funny!
Bernie: Yes! I think we all could use some comedy right now.
Margaret: Amen to that!
Bernie: Anything else?
Margaret: Nope, don’t think so…OH! I love that new step and repeat.
Bernie: The what?
Margaret: That thing you take your photo in front of that our board just got for us. Here it is with me and ShaShauna:
Bernie: Oh, yeah! That thing is great! So fun.
Margaret: The staff and board are KILLING it!
Bernie: I’ve never seen a board work as hard or have as much fun as our board does.
Margaret: Amazing people! I know how much the cast and crew of the shows appreciates their support.
Bernie: All in all, this has been a fabulous year. I would love see end of year giving go well this year.
Margaret: I know that our patrons want us to succeed and they’ve been so supportive over the years. I hope they know how much we appreciate them and the work they allow us to do.
Bernie: After 23 years, they’re still with us. We do this for them!
Margaret: Indeed!
Bernie: So, talk to you next week?
Margaret: Absolutely. Talk to you soon!
Bernie (singing tunelessly): Happy New Year!
Margaret (singing tunelessly): Happy New Year!