A Message from John Saunders
Writing this annual greeting to you, I find myself so completely struck with gratitude for the home the Mac-Haydn Theatre has given so many artists for more than 50 years. And welcoming these thousands of artists has been YOU—loyal, supportive, and above all, determined to keep the magic alive year after year. I’m also incredibly grateful to be able to report that we made it through what seemed like an insurmountable crisis with the success of the 2021 season. So, first, a big thank you for making the impossible possible once again.
Together we have faced the many challenges of the last two years and have landed squarely on our feet to be able to plan for the 2022 season. From our Covid-19 protocols to our reconfigured stage, we had many new obstacles to overcome and we did just that. We had zero cases of Covid-19—our hard work and planning paid off. And here I will add yet another THANK YOU for your flexibility and cooperation as we navigated a summer we will never forget. We may not have had the usual crowds, but the theatre was alive and thriving and it was amazing to see everyone again. We also managed to successfully present even more exciting shows with our special events and Summer in September series which I am so happy to report will be coming back in 2022!
We have so many exciting things on the horizon and we cannot wait to share another season of exceptional music theatre together—especially from our new seats! That’s right, the floors are painted and the new chairs are being installed. We are working especially hard through the winter to make this happen and we just can’t wait to see you sitting in them next summer!
Now comes that time of year when we ask for your support once again for our Annual Fund. As many of you know, this end of the year push is what propels us through the spring and gets us to Opening Day. As things return to sort-of-normal, we now have to plan for the ever rising costs of almost everything, from lumber to printer ink. It is my mission to always keep Mac-Haydn financially accessible to everyone and without your help every year, this would not be possible.
A very happy patron stopped by the office last summer and said, “Wow! The Mac didn’t just come out of the pandemic, the Mac exploded out of the pandemic!” It meant the world to the entire staff to hear these remarks all summer long and it truly kept us going day in and day out. It has also inspired us to work even harder this winter to make 2022 the most spectacular season yet! Please have a safe and wonderful holiday season and we can’t wait to welcome you home for the summer again next year!
My Best Always,
John Saunders, Artistic Director