90.5 WESA: The years since the pandemic shutdown have been especially difficult for nonprofit performing-arts groups, in terms of both selling tickets and raising funds. On Friday, three of Pittsburgh’s most venerable troupes announced they are looking into ways they might join forces to survive.
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It is sad to hear about the many difficulties and challenges that nonprofit performing arts groups are currently facing. These organizations often rely on limited funding and community support, so it’s not surprising that they struggle when unexpected problems arise. I admire the way they continue to find creative ways to overcome these obstacles and keep their programs alive, even during difficult times. I hope more people will recognize their struggles and take action to support them, whether it’s through donations, volunteering, or simply attending performances.
Personally, I grew up in a place where the performing arts were not very prominent, so I did not have many opportunities to be involved. Because of that, I feel that it is very special that there are so many chances to experience theater. I truly hope these organizations will remain strong and continue to provide opportunities to experience the excitement of the performing arts.
In many ways, this article is disheartening. However, I am glad that these organizations, that mean so much to everyone here in the Pittsburgh area, that have been here for so long, are doing everything that is necessary in order to continue to survive. Don't get me wrong, I think it's very sad that this is necessary, but I'm glad that no one in any of these organizations has considered simply throwing in the towel, or limping on without doing everything they can to make things better. Hopefully, these theaters are able to find an agreement that works for them, so that they can all tighten their belts, and keep providing meaningful and important content to the Greater Pittsburgh region. Only time will tell, but I sincerely hope that one day these organizations do not have to fall back on such measures. I am also curious to see what this joining forces would look like logistically speaking.
While hearing about the need for action and collaboration like this is never good news as it demonstrates a very real and imminent threat to the existence of local theatre in Pittsburgh, I do hope that this coming together of these three theatres does dramatically improve their ability to operate effectively and in a more financially sustainable way moving forward. From a production standpoint, I’d hope this is an incredibly exciting opportunity for those involved to figure out how to pool the resources of these theatres to better support each other more openly with the use of shared stock and inventories, provide expertise and advice to others on management of their departments and technical implementation of all of their designs, and allow for easier to find and maintain overhire opportunities for their staff. As someone who has worked in local theatre, the other theatres that surround you are often one of our greatest resources, and hopefully work together like this allows for even greater artistic quality and survival moving forward.
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