It’s not easy producing theater these days, especially when you are a small budget theater in the San Francisco Bay Area. The COVID-19 pandemic really did a number on our already volatile community: venues and spaces have closed all over the Bay Area; theater companies have shuttered; production costs have gone up close to, or over, 100% in some cases; and some creatives simply don’t have the capacity to keep up with the changes. We don’t blame them; it’s hard out here for an artist! All that said, Left Coast Theatre Company has been able to weather the storm by keeping production costs as low as we can these last few years, and because of that we’re still here! At least for now…

We know how to stretch a dollar, but we need that dollar first!

Only 25% of our total budget is made up from donors, while ticket sales account for 45% of our total income. We’ve managed to make up the remaining 30% with sponsors and sometimes a single grant. We recruit almost exclusively volunteers to run our company in order to keep costs low so we can pay our artists and creatives a modest volunteer expense stipend for every show and reading. However, that modest stipend needs to be raised periodically, and our Administrative Staff deserves a little compensation. Artists and creatives are some of the hardest working people, and for too long their skills and dedication have been taken advantage of or written off as “hobby”. Left Coast Theatre Co. sees their value, and wishes to pay them their worth, but we cannot do it on ticket sales alone. While we are committed to raising the stipends by at least 20% each year, we would need to raise it more than 150% in order to be competitive with our colleagues. This is where we need your help!

What does your donation support, you ask?

It’s a delicate balance, but donations mean that we can support LGBTQ+ and QTBIPOC stories and creatives. With your donation, we can:

• Support local queer actors, designers, and directors in creating art that is made by and for them

• Support local, national, and international playwrights in sharing their unique stories with our audiences

• Keep up with raising production costs like venue rentals; rehearsal spaces; and materials like costumes, props, and set pieces

• Afford to expand the administrative staff and support growing the company
  

In an environment where original work is already hard to promote, and queer and BIPOC stories are under national attack, we truly believe what we do at Left Coast is important to people. We support artists of all backgrounds, experience, and ambitions, giving newbies a chance to grow, and veterans a chance to play. 

Each anthology production we bring to the stage is a collection of original works that focus on LGBTQ+ themes and address important issues of the queer community in thought-provoking, and often humorous ways. While we want to entertain our audiences, we also engage them in constructive conversations, promote diversity, and encourage community involvement by curating our productions to show unique and multiple perspectives within a single production. Audiences walk away feeling seen AND learning something new about their community every show.

Your donation supports queer artists and stories, both locally and abroad! 

Our sincerest thanks,

Erica Andracchio & Neil Higgins