Among the many facets of business and culture that were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, spectator events - particularly theater - were especially challenged. Theater companies struggled to keep their doors open and support productions, as immediate government support dwindled and in many cases, audiences were slow to return.
Portland Center Stage's Armory Theater in Portland's Pearl District, captured on Aug. 5, 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was shutting down productions. Recent fundraising success suggests the theater company may have turned a corner.
Steven Tonthat
That’s been the case in Oregon, from Ashland to Portland.
In January, Portland Center Stage Artistic Director Marissa Wolf acknowledged to OPB’s “Think Out Loud” that the renowned theater company based at the Pearl District’s Armory Theater was in a dire situation financially.
“We are really in a position of struggle right now,” Wolf said. “It’s been a volatile time as we build back from the pandemic.”
In May, Portland Center Stage set fundraising goals — with the ultimate target of raising $9 million by June 2026.
“In addition to these funds we are also cutting costs, and restructuring where possible such that we can serve and uplift our community of patrons, performers and partners,” the theater company’s development director, Edwina Kane said in an email.
The fundraising plan set goals along the way, with the first one at the end of this month to raise at least $2.5 million. That initial goal was needed to “launch the 2025-26 season.”
The upcoming season is scheduled to start on Sept. 28, with the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, “Primary Trust.”
Two weeks ahead of the Aug. 31 deadline, PCS is reporting it has raised $3.6 million. That figure includes $1.5 million in income from the state, according to reporting by The Oregonian/Oregonlive.
“It is important to note though, that as we celebrate exceeding our first milestone, which allows us to ensure that we can bring the full 25/26 season to life, we still have a long way to go in our campaign to reinforce our ability to continue bringing transformative experiences to our community for years to come,” Kane said.
Portland Center Stage is hoping to reach $9 million in raised revenue by June 2026 to both support plays going into the future and provide the theater company with some resilience.
The next goal is to get the theater company’s fundraising total to $5 million by the end of this calendar year. The intention is to put PCS on firmer financial footing, by erasing the “accumulated deficit” and establishing a cash reserve.
