05/14/2026
Dear Community,
As I look back on Season Eleven, I am beyond grateful to the performers, creatives, and audiences who made our work possible. While our programming is thriving artistically, Ovations Theatre is currently facing a dire financial situation. Without immediate support, we will be unable to move forward past our announced summer season and camps and will not have a fall season.
We need to raise $8,000 within the next month to cover essential operating expenses, including space insurance, performance rights, utilities, and back rent. Our current operations have become unsustainable; while enrollment remains steady, income from tuition and ticket sales has not kept pace with rising costs. This year alone, we provided over $40,000 in scholarships to ensure our programming remained accessible to all families.
For over a decade, I have poured my heart into building Ovations as a space where artists of all backgrounds and identities are celebrated. However, following recent government layoffs that impacted our families, we fell short of our budget by nearly $17,000. This gap makes it impossible to cover the costs necessary to sustain our mission at the Harriet.
As a Black, q***r man who built this "room of my own" when other doors were closed, I am dedicated to this community. But I must be honest: without your help, we will have to make heartbreaking changes this fall.
If you are able, please consider donating to our future. If you cannot give financially, you can still help by sharing our mission, purchasing a ticket to a summer show, or inviting a neighbor to join us.
Harriet Tubman once said, "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."
I still believe in this dream, and I hope you do too. You can donate through Venmo (-morris), PayPal (with [email protected] as the recipient) or by check!Please feel free to reach out with any questions to [email protected].
With gratitude,
Darnell Patrick Morris
