10/16/2024
For 59 years, the Weathervane has blessed residents and visitors to the North Country with incredible performances, like this year's first in the world production of Everybody's Talking About Jamie and groundbreaking, breathtaking, stunning, words-can't-capture performance of Cabaret starring Veronica Dunne.
What you may not know from the sold-out performances, beautiful sets, and incredible reputation is that the Weathervane is struggling financially, and may not always be around without our support.
As a company, we have already pledged and committed our sponsorship for Season 60, but it's not enough. Please read the message below from artistic director Ethan Paulini and if you can, help us support our community and ensure the Weathervane can continue to amaze us for years to come! But it's not enough... please read this note from Artistic Director Ethan Paulini and if you can help by donating at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35289/store/donations/32432
From Ethan Paulini, Artistic Director:
To Our Beloved Weathervane Community,
As we prepare to celebrate 60 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the North Country, we find ourselves at a critical crossroads. Across the nation, arts organizations face unprecedented financial struggles, with many forced to close their doors. The Weathervane Theatre is no exception.
Youâve heard me speak about the challenges we face. In previous letters, Iâve shared how difficult itâs become to keep the Weathervane thriving. Now, we need your help more than ever.
The reality is stark: Do we close our doors, or do we rally together to secure the future of this beloved theatre? Weâve done everything we can to maximize revenueâimplementing dynamic pricing while still offering accessible ticket options, even opening a bar to enhance patron experience and generate additional income. Weâve been resourceful, creative, and strategic. But despite these efforts, the financial headwinds are simply too strong.
Bringing professional actors, artists, and technical staff to the Weathervane means competing against a growing wage gap we canât close. Many of our company members join us not for the paycheck but because they love this theatre and what it stands for. However, rising costs across the board are making it harder to keep up.
And thereâs more to it than just the productions. What many may not realize is that we maintain housing for our company in the historic Spalding Innâan aging property with over 40 guest rooms and bathrooms, a separate Carriage House, and a commercial kitchen. This is vital to our operations but comes with steep maintenance costs that often go unnoticed.
The truth is, without a significant influx of support, we may not see a 60th season. The Weathervane has been a beacon of artistic expression and community for decades. Now, we need your help to ensure it remains a cornerstone of the North Country for years to come.
Your donation today can make all the difference. Every dollar helps keep the lights on, the productions going, and the artists coming back. Please join us in saving this treasured theatre. Together, we can ensure the show goes on.
With gratitude and hope,
Ethan Paulini
