ACT has first budget surplus in more than 4 years

The continuing financial recession is hitting many arts groups in the area hard, but Seattle's ACT Theatre has good news on the financial front.

With stringent cost-cutting, hundreds of new individual donors and a 23 percent increase in single-ticket sales during 2009, ACT is posting its first surplus in more than four years — an estimated $70,000. That includes making up for a cash shortfall of $780,000 from the previous year.

The theater still carries an accumulated deficit of about $2.7 million, acknowledged ACT executive director Carlo Scandiuzzi. But he noted that ACT reduced that debt by $100,000 in 2009, and cash gifts from individuals shot up 39 percent in the same period.

"We have stopped the hemorrhaging, created a sustainable model, and will continue to balance our budgets, repay our debt and create surpluses," Scandiuzzi predicted.

To boost attendance and income, ACT last year created a new membership program, which offers patrons an "all-access" pass to many of its performances for a modest monthly fee. So far 350 passes have been sold.

And ACT has kept its multistage playhouse in the landmark Eagles building on Union and Seventh Street bustling, hosting shows by outside groups in its Central Heating Lab series and offering additional play readings and other events.

Some of ACT's 2009 savings, however, were achieved by hiring fewer actors for its mainstage series, and producing more solo and small-cast works.

Founded in 1965, ACT is one of the city's longest-running and most respected nonprofit theaters. In 2003 it almost closed, due to several financial problems, but emerged from the crisis with the aid of generous community support.

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com