Help Theatre IV dig out!

Some are joking that the alternative title of The Song of Mulan should be The Show that Never Was.

With all the cancellations, it's almost true -- we've had two (count 'em, 2!) performances of Mulan since the show's opening on January 29. The most recent storm wiped out all performances over the weekend. That's four cancellations. Add those to the last batch of cancellations from the other storm, and that's a lot of lost revenue. With more snow in the forecast, the outlook for Mulan isn't so sunny.

Our other performing arts colleagues are in the same boat. While the snow is pretty and the kids are loving days off from school, lost revenue due to weather -- particularly in light of existing difficulties during the current economy -- is a challenge that none of us bargained for.

The good news is, you can help! There are two ways you can support Theatre IV as we attempt to dig out from under this financial snow drift:

1. Purchase a "virtual ticket" -- in other words, make a donation to Theatre IV in the amount of the ticket price for a show you may have attended, but was canceled due to snow. For example, the price of a ticket to Mulan is $22, so you would make a $22 donation to cover the lost revenue for that canceled ticket. Your donation is tax-deductible and you can still exchange your ticket for another performance.

2. Donate your ticket back to Theatre IV in lieu of rescheduling. This counts as a tax-deductible donation too, since you received no goods or services in exchange. For example, if you purchased a ticket to a canceled performance of Mulan, you would let the box office know that instead of exchanging your ticket for another performance, you want to donate that canceled ticket to the theatre and then (we hope!) purchase a ticket for a future performance.

To make an online donation at any time to Theatre IV, you can do so securely through Network for Good. Just go to our webiste, www.theatreivrichmond.org, and click "Donate" at the top of the page to be redirected to Network for Good.

If you would rather mail a donation, you can send it to Theatre IV, Attn: Development Office, 114 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23220.

Or, you can call us at (804) 783-1688 to make a donation over the phone with a credit card.

We also welcome stock donations and in-kind donations of furniture, clothing/costumes, props, etc.

With your help, we'll weather this storm just as we have weathered all the others for the past 35 years. Most of all, THANK YOU, dear friends, for your steadfast support of Theatre IV! Fingers crossed, we'll see you at the theatre!