Dear Scranton Shakespeare Festival Community,

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For over a decade, it has been our absolute honor to provide free, world-class theatre to the people of Scranton and beyond. Year after year, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that cost is never a barrier to experiencing the magic of live performance, all thanks to the unwavering passion of our artists, volunteers, and supporters like you.

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However, we are writing to you today with an important update. After much reflection and careful consideration, we have made the very difficult, but necessary, decision to introduce a $20 ticket price for our musical productions this summer.

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This is not a step we take lightly. Producing professional-quality theatre is expensive; from paying artists and technicians, to maintaining performance spaces, building sets, providing costumes, and securing the rights to perform beloved works. This summer alone, our licensing fees total $10,417.45. Despite our best efforts through fundraising and grants, we have reached a point where we simply cannot sustain our work without additional support. To continue offering the kind of vibrant, ambitious productions our community deserves, and to ensure the future of Scranton Shakespeare Festival for years to come, we must ask for your help in a new way.

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That said, we want to be clear: we remain deeply committed to accessibility. Keeping true to our founding mission statement, we will continue to produce professional Shakespearean productions for free to the public, made possible by PNC Bank. A $20 ticket for our musical titles, we believe, is still an affordable option to experience professional theatre and we hope you’ll agree that this small price supports a much larger cause.

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Additionally, we are thrilled to announce our new Free Ticket Program. For anyone who needs it, we will offer opportunities to donate your time and talents in exchange for tickets to our charged productions. Whether it’s helping us usher, assist with setup, or lend your skills backstage, there is a place for you in our Festival family. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

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We also invite you to support Scranton Shakespeare Festival through a donation. Every gift, no matter the size, directly funds artists, technicians, and the magic on stage. If you would like to donate, you can do so by clicking the 'Make a Donation' button below.

 

We know this change may feel surprising, and it is not a decision we have made easily. But we are confident that, together, we can continue to keep the Festival thriving, growing, and serving the community we love.

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Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for believing in us. We cannot wait to share another unforgettable summer with you.

 

With gratitude,

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The Scranton Shakespeare Festival Team