
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.
vince@weekendguy.com
|