Saturday, February 6, 2010 Dear Patrons Of The Muskoka Theatre Project; First of all, I want to thank the many supporters who have followed MTP since it began in 2001 with our original production of "Scenes From My Dock!" at the Gravenhurst Opera House. It has been an incredible journey and has given me, personally, the opportunity to work as a playwright, producer and director with some of the country's most talented artists. There are not many companies who can boast about the level of continuous quality and degree of excellence, produce original and acclaimed award winning productions plus become what one member of the media referred to us as "a summer tradition like opening up the cottage and the first jump in the lake", in such a short spanse of time and with incredible limitations. Unfortunately, it looks as if the tradition will be ending. Producing live theatre involves a lot of time and money plus an element of risk. Over the years, in order to produce, I personally have assumed many of the traditional roles from executive producer (including financier) and general manager to taking on the artistic direction roles as playwright and sometimes director. I am not complaining for I have loved every moment. It is just that the road taken to reach this point has presented itself with too many challenges lately. Since 2004, we have been very fortunate to have had the support of Red Leaves Resort. A major financial contributor to our success, we also shared a vision. Our partnership included a theatre as part of the proposed resort village, which was going to give the Muskoka Theatre Project a permanent, year round home. Ineligible for public funding as we were not a registered not-for-profit organization, I personally underwrote the difference in production costs between the actual budget and sponsorship, box office receipts plus advertising revenues. I did so as an investment on which I believed I would eventually see a return once Red Leaves opened. In 2008, I created the non-profit organization Rosseau Culture and Arts Project (RCAP) that would in time oversee the administration and running of MTP. The full transition would take a few years, as even though we made such great artistic achievements and were recognized for our contribution to local culture and economy, the funding agencies discarded our past accomplishments and saw us as a new entity still inelligible for grants. At the time it did not seem to be a problem as stage two of Red Leaves, the flagship JW Marriott Hotel was scheduled to open that summer. To celebrate the opening we planned an ambitious season at our temporary Red Leaves (Tent) Playhouse theatre which included an extensive marketing plan. We learned only in late May that the hotel opening was going to be delayed, after committing to artists and media. Then the summer proved to be one of the wettest and coldest. We ended up producing the season even though the signs of financial troubles ahead were already in the air. In October, due to the economy our partnership with Red Leaves was dissolved leaving me personally responsible for outstanding debts. Six months later the resort project was in receivership. For 2009, with RCAP now managing MTP, we salvaged a season by staging a production of my hit golf musical "Scenes From the 19th Hole!", which played in Rosseau and down at The Orillia Opera House. This was made possible only through the hard work of volunteers, box office receipts and again me personally underwriting the production. Last fall I planned a season for 2010 with the intention that we would be able to secure new sponsorship and private or public funding. Unfortunately, with the economy in such trouble along with the extensive amount of funds I had invested in MTP when in partnership with the Red Leaves vision, my own personal situation has come to a point that I am no longer able to continue without a secured salary. It has been my passion to create live theatre and to see Muskoka once again host a sustainable permanent professional company that has kept me going for all these years. I have come out of this experience having created and presented theatrical productions which I hope will be remembered for their insight and originality, most notably "Quiet! I'm Talking" , "Scenes From My Dock!", "Scenes From the 19th Hole!" , "Wedding Whine & Cottage Cheese" and "Wake Me When It's Over!" . All of which have enjoyed subseqent productions ourside of Muskoka. ( A tour of England and Florida is planned"19th Hole" for next season.) I am presently working on several new projects and in order to do so I am seeking a more stable position in either production, management or marketing even if it means leaving Muskoka. (For those interested please feel free to visit my LINKEDIN PAGE . You'll be able to see my bio and perhaps you might have a connection or solution.) In the meantime I will continue on as Executive Director of RCAP until the future reveals itself. In short of winning the lottery or a patron making a large donation (or taking on a sponsorship position), the Muskoka Theatre Project will suspend all future productions until further notice. Thank you for your continued support. I will certainly miss entertaining you all. Vince Grittani Artistic Producer/Director Muskoka Theatre Project.
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