Set the Stage
Hartford Stage must act now to sustain and thrive, not just for today, but for decades to come. We have the support of our staff, artists, and community to continue forward together. We can remain a vital part of where we live, work, and play.
As we look to our next 60 years, Hartford Stage has launched the Set the Stage Campaign to raise $20 million to secure our future and enhance our impact.
When it was founded in 1964, there was a belief in this art form and this community. We continue to believe in its promise and importance and want to safeguard this theater for it to outlive each of us individually, as the theater has outlived and guided generations.
Artistic Director, Melia Bensussen, 2023
They create and produce their own plays in new ways that touch on the cultural challenges in today’s world. The greatest benefit we have is just about everyone who has lived or worked in Hartford for any extended period knows Hartford Stage and knows the value of the organization and its cultural and economic impact on our city.
Don Allan, Campaign Chair
President and CEO, Stanley Black & Decker
GET INVOLVED
The Time to Act is Now
Help us reach our $20 million dollar campaign fundraising goal.
Call to Donate:
860-520-7249
Email to Donate:
gifts@hartfordstage.org
Click to Donate:
Donate Online
MISSION & VISION
A Roadmap to Fulfilling Our Mission
The $20 million Set the Stage campaign is focused on two areas where donors can impact the future:
Endowment
Creating a robust endowment will ensure Hartford Stage is here fulfilling its mission for decades to come.
This reliable funding resource will allow us to support our fiscal uncertainties in times of hardship without fear of a fluctuating economy or dining variability. The larger our endowment, the stronger our financial health becomes. We will be able to operate more confidently, and securely to explore new artistic education and community programs.
Programming
Theater sparks a lifelong love for the arts, cultivates empathy and community, and inspires creativity and teamwork.
The runway needed to grow back our audience, expand our reach, and deepen our impact has proven more laborious and costly since the return of live theater following the pandemic than anyone anticipated. As we continue to close the gap on our box office earnings, donor support is crucial to keep showing our community the power of what theater can do.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Did you know?
Hartford Stage must act now to sustain and thrive, not just for today, but for the decades yet to come. We have to remain a vital part of this community, where we live, work, and play.
Why invest now?
The overall patronage of the arts is down 37% in Hartford, since 2020. For us, that is a loss of 50% in subscriptions, or $1M in ticket sales.
Income from ticket sales cover only one-quarter of Hartford Stage’s costs.
Every ticket sold is subsidized! Without charitable gifts, every ticket would cost at least $175!
Every element you see on our stage is created from scratch! We build the sets and costumes right here in Hartford.
Our education programs serve more students than all the other Connecticut theaters combined!
The economic impact of arts and culture organizations is more than $158M in the Greater Hartford region, and more than $73.3B nationwide. The $20 Million raised will secure our future and enhance our impact.
CUE THE APPLAUSE
THANK YOU to our growing list of campaign contributors!
Individual Supporters
$750,000+
- Don & Marilyn Allan
- Rick & Beth Costello
$500,000+
- Jack & Donna Sennott
- The Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
$250,000+
- David & Janice Klein
$100,000+
- Doug & Sheryl Adkins
- Sue Ann Collins
- Bob & Frankie Goldfarb
- Wes & Chloe Horton
- Thomas & Margah Lips
- Chrissie & Ezra Ripple
$50,000+
- John & Suzanne Bourdeaux
- Walter & Dianne Harrison
- Barnaby W. Horton & Hannah Granfield – Horton
- Marjorie E. Morrisse
$25,000+
- David & Kathleen Jimenez
- Mike & Colleen Nicastro
- Judith Meyers & Richard Hersch
- Barri Marks
$10,000+
- Sara Bareilles
- Marla & John Byrnes
- David & Linda Roth
- Rosalie Roth
- Marilda Gandara & Scott O’Keefe
- Kelly & Edward Lyman
- Andy & Jen Pace
- Elease & Dana Wright
$5,000+
- Devon & Thomas Francis
- Sherwood & Maggie Willard
- Ted Whittemore
- George & Helen Ingram
- Theodore & Nancy Johnson
- Dan & Arlene Neiditz
$100 – $4,999
- Kathleen & David Bavelas
- Robert & Catherine Boone
- Pam & Peter Sobering
- Rhonda Tobin & Jeffrey Smith
- Paul & Karen Torop
- Mary Ellison
- Carolyn Johnson
- Robert Parrott & Sally Wister
Campaign Committee
Campaign Chair
Don Allan
Campaign Vice Chairs
Rick Costello
Rosalie Roth
John Bourdeaux
Marla Byrnes
Jamie Cohen
Brennden Colbert
Sue Ann Collins
Alana Curren
Devon Francis
Marilda Gandara
Darrell Goodwin
Carrie Hammond
Barnaby Horton
Jackie Iacovazzi
David Jimenez
Karl Krapek
Thomas Lips
Michael Nicastro
Andy Pace
David Polk
Chrissie Ripple
Jack Sennott
Claire Stermer
Nathan Sykes
Jeffrey Vida
Sherwood Willard
Katie Woodard
Hartford Stage has impacted the lives and careers of many. These loyal supporters, community leaders, and artists are all advocates for the success of this campaign.
Lynn Aherns
Betty Buckley
The Honorable & Mrs. Luke Bronin
Stephen Flaherty
Arnold Greenberg
Walt & Dianne Harrison
Greg & Renata Hayes
Quiara Alegría Hudes
David & Jan Klein
Mark Lamos
Priscilla Lopez
Marsha Mason
Jefferson Mays
Johanna Morrison
John Andrew Morrison
Linda & Donald Silpe
Richard Thomas
Darko Tresjnak
Sharon Washington
Michael Wilson
