In a proclamation worthy of a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, the Arizona Theatre Company Board of Trustees has announced in a release that fundraising efforts to save the 2016-17 season has succeeded, and the 50th Anniversary season will indeed launch with Kind Charles III as previously scheduled. Arizona audiences will have their shows, and ATC company and staff will keep their jobs.

The number capped at 448 Tucson donors and 320 from Phoenix. Mike Kasser, Tucson business leader and stalwart ATC patron sent a heartfelt thank you to the generosity of Arizona's loyal theatre-goers:

 “I’m so happy that this effort came together and reached the goal. With over 700 small-to-medium size donors, It was like a crowd-funding campaign without the Internet. I also very much appreciate the support from Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild as well as several large donors. We know that this does not represent the end of our fund-raising focus, but now ATC can move forward with a very exciting season and plan for the future.”

Other leaders within ATC, including Artistic Director David Ira Goldstein and Board of Trustees Chair Lynne Wood Dusenberry, expressed their deep gratitude for the outpouring of support, but qualified the statements by reminding the community of all the fundraising and reorganizing that still needs to be done to ensure company sustainability. 

"And to those who so generously donated to the effort, at whatever level they could afford, we can only offer our deep thanks and a promise to take every necessary step to ensure that ATC is in a position to produce 50 more seasons," Dusenberry said. "At the same time, as wonderful as this day is, there is still much work to be done on both the fund-raising side and organizationally to ensure ATC’s long-term financial and artistic stability.”

You can now, finally, check out the ATC website for more information on tickets and dates for the upcoming season of shows. King Charles III will open in September, followed by An Act of God in October, and closing with Fiddler on the Roof at the end of the year.