Dear Friend of the Onyx,
Just a year ago the forecast was bleak. The Review-Journal proclaimed “The End is Near” for the Onyx Theatre and the buzz around town was after ten years it would shut its doors for good.

Well, that didn’t happen.

Thanks to an amazing group of artists, volunteers, administrators and AUDIENCES we’ve been able keep going at an unprecedented rate.  At the end of 2015, we’ll have produced and presented twelve Main Stage shows, two studio shows, our first children’s show, and multiple improv, cabaret, and variety shows. Additionally, we’ve partnered with Vegas Theatre Hub to bring professional improv training back to the city.  Our most recent development was the successful lobbying of the county commission to amend an archaic code prohibiting small theaters from applying for a liquor license.

And we’ve optimistically started planning NEXT season’s line-up…while in the middle of our exciting Tenth Anniversary season.

But here’s the Debbie Downer.

Although we’ve kept the doors open successfully this year - amazingly on ticket sales alone - we’re not yet at the point where we can grow our operations. That will come when we can open a new revenue stream (hello, beer!) and expand our youth options. Until then we sorely need a boost in operating capital.  To cut through all this muckety-muck, by helping us now, we can roll into the new year able to plan ahead.

Some of our specific needs include:

- Pipe and drape to create additional storage space in our studio.

- New stage drapes to replace the torn and ragged ones currently in the main stage.

- A complete redo of our stage floor. Ten years of paint layers has to go.

- Upgrade our front of house computer systems to the twenty-first century.

- Upgrade our PAR-cans (lighting) to more sustainable LED.

- A replacement for our in-house keyboard: that broken G-key drives pianists crazy.

As I mentioned, this past year 98% of our income came from single ticket sales alone. Unlike other non-profit theaters less than 1% came from gifts and donations (the remaining percentage came from season ticket sales). If you don’t ask, you don’t receive…so now we’re asking. And not for much. In the spirit of our tenth anniversary, we’ve set a capital goal of ten thousand dollars. That’s just enough to make the improvements we need and help us sail through the second half of our year.

Ten thousand dollars, in a city where that’s tossed across a table without an afterthought every hour.

And although we welcome donations with many zeros, every $50, $25 and $10 donation adds up.

Consider this your last opportunity to snag a year-end write off.  You see, your donation to support Onyx Theatre is fully tax deductible under a fiscal sponsorship by Table 8 Productions. 

So, ten thousand dollars for our tenth anniversary. We can do it. Heck, if our recent Yelp reviews (4.5 out of 5 stars) are any indication, we’d venture to say you’re ready to help spread the word. Here’s just a few of them:

“I LOVE this crazy little local theater!” Five Stars - Kent T.

“WOW! Just WOW!” Five Stars - Caleb J.

“One show and I’m already in love.” Five Stars - Linda C.

“I can’t say enough great things about this little theatre.” Five Stars - Sebastian B.

“I can’t wait to have my next play experience here!” Five Stars - Deshika B.

Let’s see how fast we can reach this number. It’s totally do-able…and if you can’t skip that Starbucks, then share this with friends who can!

I’ll see you at the Onyx.

Best,
Troy Heard
Producing Director

$5+ A high five. Literally, you'll get a high five from one of the Onyx staff!

$50+ A limited-edition Onyx Theatre bumper sticker; and the above.

$100+ An inviation to our 2016-17 Season Announcement party; and all of the above.

$250+ Your name on our donor wall for perpetuity; and all of the above.

$500+ A private talkback session with the cast and creative team of any production of your choice; and all of the above.

$1,000+ An invitation to the first meet-and-greet/read-through of any one our productions; and all of the above.

$2,500+ A character named after you in our upcoming production of "Titus Andronicus Jr."; and all of the above.

$5,000+ A private performance (final dress rehearsal) of any of our upcoming Main Stage shows for you and your friends; and all of the above.

$10,000 or More Drive is done! Man, that was easy...and all of the above!