End of the Fiscal Year!

August 17, 2023

Dear Friends and Family, 

I was told by a couple of members of my staff that people think TADA! is “rolling in the dough.” I’m not sure where anyone got this idea. None of us are rolling in dough or anything else for that matter. It’s more like we’re jumping hoops – or juggling – and trying to keep all the balls in the air without enough hands. We’ve never gotten our staff back to where it was before the 08/09 recession. We were on our way, but then the Pandemic happened. Now things are tougher than they were 13 years ago.

TADA! wouldn’t be asking for donations if we were rolling in the dough. Last summer we didn’t ask because we had COVID relief support from the government, but that is no longer. So now I’m asking because we need your help. 

We made a commitment to EDIAJ and the committee members we worked with when we created our plan. That is why we hired an Associate Director of Artist Development; why we now have “pay what you can” ticket pricing; why we no longer have a minimum give/get for our Board Members; why we have Arts For All scholarships for BIPOC students in our classes and camps; and why we have AMP (Arts Mentorship Program for BIPOC RYET members). It is why we have kept the RYET program totally free for all members and why you see a true reflection of NYC on our stage.

And that is why we aren’t rolling in the dough.

Rent goes up, materials to build sets, create costumes and lighting equipment costs more, and even the snacks we provide to RYET cost more. Our staff isn’t making tons – no one here is. If I was an executive who was making millions of dollars you know I would be donating it back and paying the staff more. You know I would be commissioning more writers, composers and lyricists and they would be getting paid better. You know we would have more productions and free tickets and our RYET members would have more opportunities. You know we wouldn’t have to rent our space to other organizations so that we could offer more classes and camps and offer more scholarships. You know I would be hiring more staff so no one person was wearing so many hats. And you know I wouldn’t tell you we we’re ending in a deficit and be asking you to help.

I don’t ask when we don’t need. It’s still hard for me to ask for help even after the last 6 months where I’ve personally needed more help than ever before. I’m not saying TADA! is on death’s door (and neither am I – my heart is doing better with the pacemaker), just that we need your support now more than ever.

So, while we aren’t rolling in the dough, we are on a roller coaster.  We need to raise an additional $50,000 by the end of August. Can you please give something to make this ride less like Space Mountain and more like Goofy’s Brainstormer? Also, if you can ask others to give that would be so wonderful. 

Best,

Janine Nina Trevens
Executive & Producing Artistic Director