Sunny Tomorrow!

Phamaly Theatre Company has been a Denver cultural institution for 27 years, producing award-winning plays and musicals that empower individuals and transform the public perception of disability. As you may know, our company has recently experienced multiple transitions - in programs and leadership. In October 2016, Regan Linton, a longtime Phamaly performer and former staff and Board Member, returned as Phamaly's Artistic Director. Since taking the position, she has worked diligently alongside current staff and Board to address significant challenges that had arisen for the company.

We want our community to know, with complete honesty and transparency, where Phamaly sits: we are facing a concerning deficit, and are therefore initiating a special campaign to raise an additional $100,000 for Phamaly before July 1.

WE NEED YOUR HELP LIKE WE NEVER HAVE BEFORE. We feel it is important to inform you about the situation.

First, how did we get here? The answer, of course, is complicated. In the simplest terms, Phamaly significantly expanded its programming a couple of years ago, with the best intentions of serving more members of our community and making a greater impact. This expansion included increasing the number of mainstage shows, offering educational classes, increasing outreach, moving into a new office with rehearsal and build space, and growing our staff. We expanded too much too quickly. Along with other contributing factors that affect many organizations, the expansion resulted in extra expenses that we thought could be made up through additional funding and ticket sales. However, we missed our projections and, little by little, incurred a deficit. During this time, staff became overextended, our productions weren't optimally supported, and our ability to keep patrons fully engaged was affected.

So, where are we now? Phamaly staff and Board have made great progress behind the scenes to accurately assess our current capacity. We are making necessary changes swiftly and thoughtfully. While we are continuing with Phamaly's current season, adjustments are being made to improve efficiency and support of productions. We are stretched thin - but we have eyes wide open and all hands on deck with a realistic and transparent approach about what is necessary to ensure the survival of the company.

What is our plan for moving forward? Mostly, going back to basics: doing what we've always done well, and doing it at the highest level of quality and integrity. Throughout 2017 and 2018, we will rein in our programming - still producing shows and providing education opportunities, but streamlining them and ensuring that our programs are built on a strong and sustainable foundation. Our focus is serving and developing theatrical artists with disabilities, and providing our local community with outstanding creative experiences that you cannot find anywhere else. We intend to measure growth and success not simply through quantity, but through the impact, transformation, and change we effect in people's lives, including performers and audiences alike. We still have great ambition for growth and success, but plan to move forward with intentional baby steps rather than uncertain leaps.

Phamaly does work unlike any other organization. At the time Phamaly was formed in 1989, producing theatre with people with disabilities - while empowering them and raising public awareness in the process - was unheard of. Over 27 years, Phamaly has weathered the storms of many circumstances that often force arts organizations to close their doors. We believe this is because of the strong spirit and unwavering resilience that exists in our company, and because of YOU - the members of our community who understand that the energy, vitality, and creativity Phamaly puts on stage is something we NEED in our world, and cannot allow to disappear.

Therefore, what are we asking? We hope you will join with our staff and Board to support Phamaly in the following three ways:

1. Donate today to our Campaign for a Sunny Tomorrow - to raise $100,000 by July 1. For those of you who donate regularly, thank you. We ask you to please consider increasing your donation or making an additional donation. We are honored that the Harvey Family Foundation has agreed to match up to $35,000 of new donations for this campaign! To donate, visit www.phamalygiving.org or call 303-365-0005 x3.

2. Attend our Come Fly With Us! Phamaly Affair on June 3. This event is Phamaly's largest fundraiser, held this year at Wings Over the Rockies Museum. Tickets are $150, tables of 8 for $1000. Come celebrate life and theatre with us, and bring your friends! Buy tickets at www.phamalyaffair.org.

3. Attend Phamaly's summer musical, ANNIE. Co-directed by Regan and former Artistic Director Steve Wilson, this will be unlike any production of ANNIE you've ever seen...