Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. (Nov. 14, 2011) Artistic Director Richard Cook announced that Park Squares 2010-2011 Season was its most successful to date, serving record audiences in its Historic Hamm Building location and raising 81% of its $4.2 Million Next Stage Campaign goal. The company has experienced 15% annual growth through a recession that has seen more than one arts group close. Were delighted with the results of our hard work, said Cook, and we know there is more than a bit of luck involved as well. We are energized by the communitys strong support and ready to take on the opening our new thrust stage sometime in 2013.

The companys draft audit, prepared by Larson Allen, bears out the financial impact of this success. Revenues increased 14% to more than $3 million, including a 19% jump in earned revenue (from $1,028,316 in 2010 to $1,222,655 in 2011). The balance sheet shows a 34% increase in net assets (from $1,167,115 in 2010 to $1,911,752 in 2011), including a truly phenomenal increase in unrestricted net assets (from $27,498 in 2010 to $383,032 in 2011). Accumulated debt was eliminated and there were no notes payable at year-end.

More audiences in the house

In its third consecutive year of record attendance, Park Square served a total audience of 61,753 during the 2010-2011 Season, 11% more than the 2009-2010 Season and 33% more than 2005-2006 Season. The companys audience included 24,955 high school students, the East Metros largest teen theatre audience and one of the largest in Minnesota. Despite the national trend of declining subscriber numbers, Park Square has held onto its base of more than 3,000.

Perhaps more importantly in an entertainment-rich community where audiences have many choices, Park Square experienced a 147% increase in the number of single ticket buyers seeing two or more shows in the same season. The companys audience is also getting younger a welcome trend for any mainstream arts group. Attendance by those aged 21-40 grew by 55% over the prior year.

More artists on the stage

Park Square has become the East Metros leading employer of local stage talent, putting more than 160 artists to work in the current season, more than double the number the company was employing in 2006. In September, Richard Cook also introduced four new Artistic Associates who will help him program the companys soon-to-be two stages: Brian Balcom, Aditi Kapil, Carson Kreitzer and James A. Williams. Leah Cooper, who made her Park Square directing debut with this seasons opener August: Osage County and who serves as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Theatre Alliance said this quartet of new associates is another in a long string of recent moves by Park Square to invest in the local community in very serious artistic ways, in ways that elevate artists in the regional theatre rather than take them for granted. These positions come with an honorarium, a regular schedule of meetings with the Artistic Directorand also promise to produce at least one project with each artist.

And soon a new stage

Thanks to two important new gifts, the theatre has raised nearly $3.4 million (81%) of its $4.2 Million campaign goal. Target Corporation Foundation has pledged $125,000 and the Nicholson Family Foundation has offered a $50,000 challenge grant to incent new and increased individual contributions to the campaign. Weve already raised more money from individuals that at any time in our 36-year history, said Director of External Relations Michael-jon Pease. These gifts will help take us over the finish line in 2012. The first physical change of the campaign has already taken place a $500,000 remodeling of the theatres 350-seat proscenium auditorium. In the next 18 months an intimate 200-seat thrust stage will be added to the companys Historic Hamm Building home, providing two platforms for artists and allowing the company to double its artistic output from 10 shows per season to 18 or more.

Park Square is located in the Historic Hamm Building, 20 West 7th Place, Saint Paul. Website: parksquaretheatre.org. Ticket office: 651.291.7005.

On Stage: Of Mice and Men Public performances Nov, 17 20 Student performances through Dec. 16.

Up Next: Hot Chocolate Nov. 30 Dec. 18 and

The Soul of Gershwin: The Musical Journey of an American Klezmer Dec. 8 Jan. 1

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Connie Shaver 612.308.5785

connieshaver@charter.net

Susan Berdahl, 651.767.8492

berdahl@parksquaretheatre.org