Starlight Musical Theatre, the iconic San Diego outdoor theater company that filed bankruptcy last month, sent a letter recently to people who’d bought tickets for this season, which was canceled.
Unlike some defunct light opera organizations around the country, the letter said, “Starlight is committed to reorganizing rather than disappearing.”
I wrote about theater’s trouble a few weeks ago, and discovered among the many supporters I talked to that the theater was an unrelenting magnet for financial support, time and emotion.
Here’s more from the letter:
Over the past decade, Starlight Theatre has focused its energy and limited resources on remaining competitive in an expanding regional theatre market. The economic recession undermined the theatre’s ability to cultivate corporate sponsors, season subscribers, and public and private grants while retaining its commitment to producing high-quality musical theatre productions. It is our hope that legal reorganization will afford Starlight the breathing space required to put its financial house in order and an opportunity to infuse its mission with renewed passion and purpose. …
The reorganization is an important first step toward securing a financially sound and sustainable future for Starlight Theatre, a beloved San Diego treasure.
A Starlight spokeswoman said three companies will offer ticket-for-ticket exchanges for prepaid Starlight tickets: Lamb’s Players Theatre, San Diego REPertory Theatre and San Diego Junior Theatre.
I’m Kelly Bennett, the arts editor for VOSD. You can reach me directly at kelly.bennett@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.325.0531.
And follow Behind the Scene on Facebook.