Friends, Partners and Members,

The current economic climate has taken its toll on LA Stage Alliance. In December 2008, the full-time Development Associate and part-time Administrative Assistant positions were eliminated. Based on income projections for the remainder of the fiscal year, the decision has been made to layoff Director of Operations, Sara Adelman and Communications Manager, Darren Schroader effective February 13, 2009. The organization will retain its full time Executive Director, Terence McFarland and Programs Manager, Douglas Clayton as well as the part time Accounts Manager, Julie Briggs and Publisher/Editor of LA Stage Lee Melville.

Although the organization has downsized, all programs will continue:

LA Stage Times – cooperative advertising program with the LA Times.

LA Stage TIX – online half-price ticket program offering tickets to over 400 events annually.

LA Stage AIR – cooperative advertising program in partnership with Classical KUSC.

Ovation Awards – peer-evaluated theater awards program.

LA Stage Blog – online resource offering information and opportunities for the performing arts.

National Arts Marketing Project Workshops, Next Stage Workshops, MetLife Foundation National Arts Forum Series

LA Stage magazine - covering the performing arts in greater Los Angeles will become an online-only publication beginning with the next issue. LA Stage Alliance thanks the individual donors that came together to support the print publication of the 9th anniversary issue of LA Stage.

LA Stage Alliance Executive Director Terence McFarland said, “It is in moments of great transition, like the one we find ourselves in currently, that the community looks to LA Stage Alliance for our leadership, programs and services and we will continue to strive to meet the community’s needs as we build awareness, appreciation and support for the performing arts in greater Los Angeles.”

“We recognize that the current economic climate has had a deep and discouraging impact on the cultural community, and LA Stage Alliance is not immune,” says LA Stage Alliance Board Chairman Michael McDowell. “The Board of Governors is committed to weathering this storm successfully and providing LA Stage Alliance with the options and resources to prevail and to continue to serve the performing arts community to the fullest extent possible.”

La Stage Alliance, a 501c3 non-profit organization, was founded in 1975 and is dedicated to building awareness, appreciation and support for the performing arts community of greater Los Angeles through community building, collaborative marketing and audience development, professional development and advocacy.

If you are interested in making a tax deductible donation to support LA Stage Alliance please call 213.614.0556 x13 or visit LAStageAlliance.com and click on the donate button.

The programs of LA Stage Alliance are funded, in part, by grants from the following organizations:

American Express, Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the James Irvine foundation, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, MetLife Foundation and Sony Pictures Entertainment.