A Capital Campaign for the Heart of Portland MAKING AN ENTRANCE A $6M+ Capital Campaign
The MAKING AN ENTRANCE Capital Campaign will raise over $6M to improve our space and increase our endowment. We aim to create stronger connections to our community by improving entry to the theater and increasing access to our vibrant programming. We will ACT to reimagine Portland Stage for our future, INSPIRE collaboration and creativity, and CONNECT with our community to reach a broader audience.
Portland Stage is an investment that pays exceptional dividends. The work on our stage has always been extraordinary. Now is the time to make our home match the quality of our shows.
to forPortlandreimagineStageourfuture act
Since 1974, Portland Stage has been telling stories that promote a deeper sense of what it means to be human. Drawing from our past, our present, and our future, we create productions that are innovative, of the moment, and relevant to our community. Our MAINSTAGE programming is our core, and we seek to engage our audiences in an active, meaningful shared experience. Now more than ever, our community needs a place that invites us to view the world from another’s perspective, building empathy, fostering anti-racism, and encouraging a sense of belonging. Each MAINSTAGE season at Portland Stage involves: • over 250 live performances • over 50,000 audience members from across New England • over 100 professional theater artists who handcraft our productions from the ground up • over 450 Pay-What-You-Can and Rush35 discounted tickets sold • over 400 tickets donated to community organizations As we improve our facility and build our endowment, our productions will engage more artists and audiences than ever before. A Capital Campaign for the Heart of Portland MAKING AN ENTRANCE
collaboration and creativityinspire
through all grade-levels. Our teaching philosophy highlights
A Capital Campaign for the Heart of Portland MAKING AN ENTRANCE programs led as they progress process students’ ability synthesize, support the of support our region’s playwrights through the Clauder Competition, New England’s most prestigious new play competition, Little Festival of the Unexpected, an incubator for new plays in development, and commissions of new plays. programs have resulted in plays like John Cariani’s Almost, Maine and Monica Wood’s Papermaker, which both premiered on our stage and have since been produced across the country and around the world. increased endowment will help us maintain and expand these crucial programs that inspire creativity and collaboration in community and beyond.
to analyze,
over product, deepening
audiences, artists, and classic plays
by professionally trained Teaching Artists, are designed to grow with students
our
and think critically. We seek to build endowment resources to
growing
Our EDUCATION PROGRAMS, composed of four core
the future through our EDUCATION and NEW WORK PROGRAMS. Each year, our EDUCATION PROGRAMS create over 14,000 unique educational experiences by reaching: • 10,000 students in grades K-12 • 750 teachers • 70 schools • 40 towns across Maine Our NEW WORK PROGRAMS
These
An
with our community to reach a broader audience connect
“Portland Stage took a chance on Maine writers before other theaters in the country. There’s this idea right now that homegrown art can be just as good as supporting a local business, or supporting local food. You can ART local, and Portland Stage was doing it before it was cool.”
Improving our facility will make it possible for us to continue connecting with our community through the work on our stage. We seek to be VISIBLE and ACCESSIBLE by inviting our community in to participate in our vibrant programming. We will improve VISIBILITY by creating a new marquee and façade – a vibrant gateway to Portland’s arts district that reflects the excitement and energy of our Weprograms.willincrease
A Capital Campaign for the Heart of Portland MAKING AN ENTRANCE
ACCESSIBILITY by repositioning a new elevator, Box Office, and lobby. This will improve and streamline the audience experience, and ensure that navigating our space is easy, safe, and comfortable for all patrons. As we improve our spaces, we plan to pay down our mortgage, generating $90,000 in cash reserves each year that can be reinvested in our programs.
—John Cariani, Playwright, Actor & Portland Stage Supporter since 2009
-Sherlock Camper
TESTIMONIALS
“That may have been the best day of my life.”
“Portland Stage is one of the institutions that makes our city feel world-class. It is so worth investing in the future of Portland Stage – for the amazing art that it brings on stage, and for all the outreach and education it takes further afield into Maine schools and communities.”
-Anne Wade, Member since 2014 and Portland Stage Education Program Parent
But then Anita asked for a head count of audience members who either worked in a paper mill or had a family member who did. When a hundred hands went up, I melted with gratitude and pride to have created something – with a team of gifted, generous people – that spoke to a demographic removed in many ways from the typical theater audience. It seemed to me, in that moment, that what theater does best is show audiences the value and beauty in their own struggles and joys. I felt so glad to be alive, simply to witness this moment.”
-Steve Bromage, Executive Director, Maine Historical Society
“I am really moved by your consistent commitment to and ability to make connections between your performances and the life of the community. Bravo!”
-Monica Wood, Portland Stage Affiliate Artist, Playwright and Member since 1979
“One of the most precious highlights of my writing career came during the first talkback after the opening of Papermaker. Most of the audience stayed – that alone was a surprise and a blessing.
THE
of Portland MAKING AN ENTRANCE The Campaign in Two Parts
Capital Campaign for
An endowment
ENDOWMENT
for programs and productions provides a financial underpinning to ensure that we can inspire the next generation of artists, audiences, and engaged citizens. Endowment funding will allow us to continue creating productions and programs that reflect who we are and inspire us to grow, guaranteeing our relevance to our evolving community well into the future. The endowment will support: • Creative risk-taking on our Mainstage • Innovative state-wide Education Programs • Nationally-renowned New Work development initiatives • Specialized staff recruitment and retention efforts
A the Heart
Portland Stage makes city vibrant. Reimagining physical invite community help connect a with In partnership with Scott Simons as architect and beloved local artist Pandora LaCasse, will increase access to building and awareness of work. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Portland Stage has already invested $20,000 toward an upgraded HVAC filtration system to ensure the safety of staff, artists,
both
we
our
our
air
space to
our
our
us
and audiences. Facility improvements will include: • State-of-the-art elevator • Enhanced lobby • Distinctive marquee, a gateway to Portland’s Arts District • Repositioned box office
broader audience
in will
our
THE FACILITY
our
the productions and programs that bring us closer together.
A Capital Campaign for the Heart of Portland MAKING AN ENTRANCE TIMELINEBUDGET Budget figures may be subject to change. Updated 11/2021. 70% of goal $3M63% 35% 2% Facility ................................... $4,000,000 (63%) Endowment .......................... $2,260,000 (35%) Expenses ...................................... $140,000 (2%) TOTAL ...................................................$6,400,000 SPRING 2019 SUMMER 2023SUMMER 2022FALL 2021FALL 2019 CompletedFeasibilityStudy BeganPhaseQuiet Benchmark$4Mreached BeginsPublicPhase ConstructionBegins
$500K$1M+ + $250K + $100K + $50K + $25K + $10K$5K++ Updated11/2021 SCALE OFCampaignGIFTS Goal: $6,400,000 $1K and below
Our partners in improving ACCESSIBILITY and VISIBILITY will be Scott Simons Architects, known for renovations of cultural landmarks including the Portland Public Library and the State Theater, and artist Pandora LaCasse, whose dramatic light sculptures brighten Portland’s parks each winter. Working with Simons and LaCasse, we will create welcoming spaces that improve the overall patron experience and encourage dialogue, networking, and community engagement. This transformation will visually convey the vibrancy of Portland Stage’s spirit and programming on the face of the building, reflecting the values of the organization and its connection to the greater Portland community. Beyond changes to the facade of the main entry, interior improvements will create a more welcoming, energetic space that not only functions better for both the staff, artists, and patrons alike, but will be an experience that provokes curiosity and inspires passion for theater to be shared by everyone who walks through our doors.
A Capital Campaign for the Heart of Portland MAKING AN ENTRANCE
Scott Simons Architects Based in Portland, Maine, Scott Simons Architects is a multi-disciplinary firm providing architectural, landscape, planning and interior design services. Pandora LaCasse Design Pandora LaCasse has been designing custom site-specific lighting sculptures for over 15 years that celebrate the physical space in which they’re located and are created specifically to engage the surrounding community.
TESTIMONIALS
“My husband and I first attended plays at Portland Stage during the nineties! Our season tickets provided a monthly date night when we had little kids. I loved going to the theater, and I began paying more attention to the plays, which spoke to politics or community issues. We want the theater to be around for a very long time. Future young parents need date nights too!”
“Portland Stage Education’s PLAY program, is a ground-breaking program that promotes literacy. Through PLAY, students experience text in a new light. They watch the words come to life, and witness words creating a new world when they come together. They discover that they can access the world of text and the world of their imagination, as well as create a new world of their own. Literacy gives them power. PLAY embodies Portland Stage’s desire to positively affect the lives of children, and it gives me great pleasure to endorse it.”
-Dr. Alec Lapidus, Associate Professor, USM School of Education and Human Development
-8th Grade Student, Lincoln Middle School
-Moriah Moser, Member since 1997 “I appreciate that the people of Portland stage took time out of their busy schedule to perform and discuss theatre with middle schoolers. These sort of experiences are really valuable and help us develop interests that we could keep for the rest of our lives.”
“Theater has a reputation of being extravagant and maybe intimidating, but from the moment I started working with Portland Stage, it has always felt approachable and welcoming. Collaboration, creative solutions, frugal craftsmanship, and good humor are at its core. As a former Portland Stage intern, the theater has provided me with so much over the years – professional experience, confidence, access to engaging productions, and connections with a lot of creative, funny, hard-working, and supportive people.”
-Adam Thibodeau, Portland Stage House Manager and former Intern
“I had to write to you all at Portland Stage to say ‘BRAVO!’ for bringing Almost, Maine to us. We have season tickets and saw the play with friends. The house was packed, and everything about this play was just magic! The set, the actors, their characters, and the stories were ALL superb. Thank you to everyone for letting us experience such a masterpiece!”
-Sara Yindra, Patron since 2015
A capital campaign is an intensive fundraising effort in a defined time-frame for a specific project. In our case, the MAKING AN ENTRANCE Capital Campaign will raise funds for substantial FACILITY improvements and an increased ENDOWMENT.
Contributions toward our Annual Fund will continue to support ongoing general operating expenses on a yearly basis.
A Capital Campaign for the Heart of Portland MAKING AN ENTRANCE ASKED QUESTIONS
Has Portland Stage completed a Feasibility Study? Yes, Portland Stage engaged Sage Advancement Group, a professional fundraising consulting firm, to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study in the Spring of 2019. The study results were largely positive and concluded that Portland Stage is well-positioned to complete a successful campaign.
Portland Stage intends to reach our campaign fundraising goal by the summer of 2023, though we hope to do so even sooner! Facility improvements will begin no earlier than 2021.
FREQUENTLY
What is a capital campaign and how does it differ from annual giving?
When will the campaign be completed, and how soon after will you break ground?
Can I make a campaign pledge to be paid in installments? Yes! Our Development office would be happy to discuss a payment schedule that works best for you. In general, campaign pledges must be paid in full within three years after making a pledge commitment. How will my campaign gift be recognized? All contributions will be acknowledged on a donor wall following completion of the campaign, and donors may also be acknowledged in annual reports, newsletter listings, and/or special media advertising unless anonymity is requested. Will there be naming opportunities available for leadership gifts? Yes! Naming of spaces, programs, and endowments will be available based on levels of support to be determined by the Campaign Steering Committee at the time of the project. Still have questions? Contact Beth Given, Development Director bgiven@portlandstage.org | 207.774.1043 x109
MULTI-YEAR PLEDGES
WAYS
PLANNED GIVING If you are interested in leaving a part of your estate to Portland Stage, designating PS as a beneficiary of a trust or life insurance policy, or donating real estate, works of art, or other tangible items, please contact: development@ portlandstage.org or 207.774.1043 x109.
IRA CHARITABLE ROLLOVER
As we are MAKING AN ENTRANCE, Portland Stage invites you to play your part in supporting a project that will secure our future. Beyond a one-time cash donation, you may wish to consider the following options when making your gift to the campaign.
A Capital Campaign for the Heart of Portland MAKING AN ENTRANCE TO GIVE
Donors who are age 70½ or older may wish to donate to the MAKING AN ENTRANCE campaign directly from a traditional IRA. Donors can contribute up to $100,000 each year directly from their IRA to Portland Stage without having to pay taxes on the distribution. To make a transfer, contact your IRA administrator.
In order to make it easier to support the Making an Entrance Capital Campaign, Portland Stage is accepting multi-year pledges for leadership level gifts. We will work with you to structure pledge payments to maximize your support in a way that is most convenient for you with final payments due no later than 6/30/2024.
Act now invest in Portland Stage! PHOTO CREDITS: Aaron Flacke, Mical Hutson, Lauren Kennedy CHARITABLE GIFTS OF STOCK Donors may wish to give to the MAKING AN ENTRANCE Capital Campaign using appreciated stock, mutual fund shares, or other marketable securities. Donations of this kind must have been held for more than a year. At the time of donation, you may deduct the fair market value of the stock from your income taxes. To make a stock gift, please have your broker notify the Portland Stage Business Manager (businessmanager@portlandstage.org, 207.774.1043 x103) so that we can properly credit the gift to you. Stock gifts may be transferred to Portland Stage via Fidelity using DTC # 0226, Portland Stage Company Account # 676271929. BradyContact:Neujahr, Portfolio Administrator R.M. 207-774-0022DAVIS | bneujahr@rmdavis.com DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS Donors who wish to contribute to the MAKING AN ENTRANCE campaign from a DonorAdvised Fund may do so using Portland Stage’s Tax ID # 51-0143171. As soon as a transfer has been initiated, please notify the Portland Stage Business Manager (businessmanager@ portlandstage.org, 207-774-1043 x103) indicating the purpose of your gift.
our
Portland
CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP Anita Stewart, Executive & Artistic Director Merle & Leonard Nelson, Honorary Co-Chairs CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE Co-Chairs Malcolm Poole & Samantha Bowen Dave Jourdan, Greg Lanou, Darrell Pardy, Nelson Toner & Anne Wade FOR MORE INFORMATION Beth Given, Development 207.774.1043bgiven@portlandstage.orgDirectorx109 PortlandStage.org | 207.774.1043 x 109 | 25A Forest Ave. | PO Box 1458, Portland, ME 04104 | ACT | INSPIRE | CONNECT
PORTLAND STAGE is the leading professional theater in Northern New England, and is committed to creating great art, passionate about using the theater to educate, and dedicated to enriching community. Stage produces exceptional live theater; demands the highest professional standards and transparency throughout the organization; fosters experimentation and artistic risk; creates innovative educational programming; and adheres to the highest standards of fiscal responsibility.
