At a press conference earlier today, Intiman announced it was going to make a go of it after all, with a four-play summer festival, a repertory company of 12 actors, and artistic direction from Andrew Russell. The four-play season is a "split focus," as Russell put it, between Intiman regulars and a potential new crowd that wants to see newer, weirder, more local work.

The catch: Intiman needs to raise $1 million by February to make the festival happen. The theater is done spending money it doesn't have—a practice popular among theaters in the past few years—Russell explained. Transparency and playing it by ear are the new models. "Don't get too comfortable," Russell said, "is my new internal tagline."

"If in early February we haven't reached our fundraising goal," Russell said, "we'll throw a big party, celebrate 40 years of Intiman, and close the doors for good."

The theater still owes money, including around $360,000 in back rent to Seattle Center—though it's unlikely the Center will kick out the theater during its 40th anniversary and the Center's 50th anniversary year. (That'd look bad.)

More importantly, this Kickstarter-esque fundraising scheme could serve as a template for other theaters. Basically, Intiman has announced some potential projects and is asking for buy-in from the community. If we, as a city, want to see this season, we'll pledge the money to make it happen. If we don't, we won't. (You can pledge here.)

Intiman also announced a new core of quality local artists involved in its reinvention, including...

... choreographer Donald Byrd, directors Valerie Curtis-Newton and Sheila Daniels, playwrights Yussef el Guindi and Tommy Smith, designers Jen Zeyl and Etta Lilienthal and Ben Zamora, actors Michael Place and Marya Sea Kaminski, and others. (The full press release and list of artists is below.)

The four-play, split-demographic festival is still a little in flux (pending rights and other issues), but it looks like this: an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet set in the Israel-Palestine fight directed by Allison Narver, a dance-inflected adaptation of Hedda Gabler staring Marya Sea Kaminski and choreographed by Olivier Wevers, a certain iconic American play by an old white guy directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton, and something "outlandish" that is "conceived by" Generalissimo Dan Savage.

In short, Intiman's new plan sounds promising. Three years ago, Carlo Scandiuzzi and ACT Theatre forged into new programming territory with their Central Heating Lab, which was a great success (and produced, among other things, Mountain, which significantly tipped the scales for John Osebold's Stranger Genius Award this year).

With Intiman's new fundraising/transparency model, we all get some ownership in the process, giving money or not to see what they'll do next. The New Intiman looks part theater, part experiment, part game show. Maybe collapse and restart isn't such a bad thing.

As Brazilian genius/musician/freakshow Tom Zé wrote: "In life, when you lose your roof you gain the stars."

* * *

Intiman Theatre Outlines New Model for Comeback in 2012

2011 Subscribers Offered Complimentary Tickets

SEATTLE (November 14, 2011) — Intiman Theatre today announced plans to relaunch the theatre in 2012 for its 40th season. Artistic Director Andrew Russell will lead Intiman in producing a four-play summer festival season curated from the ideas of a collective of local artists and performed by a repertory company of 12 local actors. Additionally, Intiman Theatre's Board of Trustees has outlined steps to ensure continued operation in the theater space at Seattle Center; an operating budget of one million dollars for the 2012 season; a collaboration with local artists and organizations; and a fundraising plan to make this vision a reality.

"During months of engaging artists and audiences on the subject of Intiman's future, one point echoed loud and clear: we must try something new. If we're going to commit to a significant amount of work, not to mention fundraising, Intiman must be fresh, forward thinking, different and worthy of a relaunch," said Andrew Russell, Artistic Director of Intiman Theatre.

ARTISTIC VISION

"The collective represents Intiman's commitment to local artists interested in challenging and groundbreaking work that will resonate in and outside of Seattle," said Russell. The collective includes a multi-disciplinary group of talented directors, actors, writers, choreographers, activists, organizations and musicians. These artists include:

· Donald Byrd (choreographer, director)
· Valerie Curtis-Newton (director, educator)
· Sheila Daniels (director)
· Nick Garrison (actor)
· Jose Gonzales (actor, musician)
· Yussef el Guindi (playwright)
· Marya Sea Kaminski (actor, writer, educator)
· Etta Lillienthal and Ben Zamora (visual and performance design team)
· Allison Narver (director)
· Michael Place (actor, director, producer)
· Queer Teen Ensemble Theatre (local theatre program for LGBTQ youth)
· Dan Savage (director, writer, activist)
· Tommy Smith (playwright)
· Olivier Wevers (choreographer)
· Richard E.T. White (director, educator)
· Robertson Witmer and the band "Awesome" (sound designer, band)
· Jen Zeyl (designer)

This collective is unified by its commitment to five core values central to Intiman's artistic vision as we move forward:
· Cultural diversity in artists and audience.
· Local artists addressing global concerns.
· Cross-pollination of the performance arts.
· Provocative and inventive storytelling.
· Cultivating an artistic home for artists, using the institution to support the artist.

The four plays selected by this collective for production in 2012 will provide a mix of classic work done with a twist, world premieres that are challenging, epic and thought-provoking, multi-disciplinary work incorporating dance, music and theatre, and work that connects the local with the global. Productions will also be designed to take advantage of the theater's unique space at Seattle Center, including the studio space and courtyard areas.

Shows under consideration for the 2012 summer festival include:
· a vibrant production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, adapted to the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict directed by Allison Narver;
· Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, which bursts open in dance, directed by Andrew Russell and choreographed by Olivier Wevers, starring Marya Sea Kamanski;
· a new outlandish production conceived by Dan Savage; and,
· Valerie Curtis-Newton directing a play in two acts split between the studio theater and courtyard.

The plays will be performed in repertory by 12 local actors. Artistically, this is challenging and fulfilling for performers, and benefits the theatre community at large as it allows the acting company to deepen their craft. For audiences, the repertory company means the pleasure of returning to see diverse performances from the same artist and an investment in the development of individual artists. "What a treat it will be for our audiences to see some of Seattle's best performers tackle back-to-back everything from Shakespeare to new-work," said Russell.

"The trustees are proud to champion the work of these artists in this unique programming model," said President of the Board of Trustees Terry Jones. By launching a theatre-festival curated from the impulses of local artists, performed by a repertory company, in a model that is sustainable and flexible, Intiman intends to break new ground while honoring its 40-year history.

After much discussion and deliberation, the Board of Trustees chose Andrew Russell to lead the relaunching of Intiman under this new model. "We are excited by Andrew's vision, are confident in his capacity to deliver on it, and believe in the board's capacity to work with him effectively to achieve the maximum intersection of artistic excellence and financial viability."

Another element of artistic vibrancy of the new Intiman model is collaboration with Cornish College of the Arts. In 2012, Intiman Theatre will work with Cornish to provide internship and other educational service opportunities to enrich the local arts community and provide expanded opportunities for local artists to learn or teach their crafts.

MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT

To deliver this new artistic model, along with Andrew Russell's artistic leadership, the board of trustees has restructured the management of the theatre from financial controls to governance and oversight. There is a strong commitment to ensuring that the operational side of the theatre is managed with discipline and transparency. The Board will implement a new strategic business plan; operate with increased financial controls and oversight; and collaborate with other leading arts organizations and artists.

As a part of this shift from plan development to program implementation, the Board of
Trustees elected Terry Jones as its new president. With a strong operational and financial background, Jones is ideally suited for the implementation phase of the new Intiman. Jones follows Bruce Bradburn who saw the board through the development of this new strategic business plan.

"In the past six months, we listened to artists, audiences and donors; reconciled and audited our books; implemented financial controls; made payments to reduce our debt; explored artistic and business options; reached out to potential collaborators; and worked with consultants to identify our path forward," Jones said.

"We recognize that the buck stops here, and we sincerely apologize that Intiman's business side went so off course," said Jones. "We are correcting our course. The Board of Trustees is committed to stewardship and smart leveraging of Intiman's resources to support and realize this exciting artistic vision for the benefit of the community."

In the 2012 plan, Intiman Theatre is acting in response to what it has heard from artists, audience members, subscribers, patrons and the public at-large and developed in analysis of non-profit theater models, artistic visions, needs, financial resources, and opportunities. The new Intiman is:
· Not spending money we don't have. Intiman will not produce a single 2012 show until we raise or obtain pledges for 2012 contributions sufficient to cover all 2012 expenses. When we reach our goal, we will collect on pledges and release escrowed funds.
· Honoring 2011 subscribers with complimentary tickets to our 2012 season. We intend to offer our season subscribers, on whom we closed our doors, complimentary tickets. "We owe our subscribers this, and we owe them the opportunity to see what a revitalized Intiman can be," said Jones. "We hope this will excite them enough that they will come back to support us in future years."
· Empowering and enriching local arts through increased collaborations. The collective and repertory company and the educational collaboration with Cornish College of the Arts will make good, local use of Intiman's fiscal and artistic resources.
· Taking responsibility and implementing stronger oversight. The board took what it heard in the planning process and is implementing the management controls recommended by its consultants and auditors. New leadership and board members will set the new course.
· Planning with deliberation and care to produce vibrant plays and pay off debt.
The retooled and artist-focused business model combined with a tailored budget, close board oversight and cost containment measures will enable delivery of dynamic theatre while we continue to retire Intiman's remaining debt. "The Intiman board and some stalwart friends have worked tirelessly to develop a plan that is viable, reflective of Intiman's excellent artistic reputation, and deserving of the community's support," said Susan Trapnell of Arts Consulting Group, Inc., management consultant to Intiman Theatre.

FUNDRAISING

"The Board believes the planned 2012 summer theatre festival will continue Intiman's tradition of delivering thought-provoking and engaging theatre to this community," said Sue Leavitt, co-chair of Intiman's fundraising and development committee. "But, this plan will only be realized if Intiman's patrons, audience members and community, corporate and foundation supporters come alongside the Board to provide the necessary resources."

Intiman has already raised twenty percent of its one million dollar operating budget to produce the summer festival—$100,000 from board pledges and an anonymous gift of $100,000 to jump-start the campaign.

Intiman has also been paying down its debt and talking to its vendors to develop payment plans. The board will continue to work with vendors and donors to settle
Intiman's remaining debt.

A form to pledge financial support for Intiman's 2012 summer season will soon be online at the theatre’s website at www.intiman.org. The 2012 season will be Intiman's 40th and the summer festival will coincide with the Next Fifty Seattle Center celebrations.