I have been involved with Lantern Theater Company for more than 15 years now. In the early days it was a small and financially struggling company that did one thing well: put on quality productions of important plays. Somehow co-founders Charles McMahon and Michael Brophy made it work. They directed plays, acted in them, cajoled others to come on board, maintained the theater, did the books, and raised money. Today the Lantern has a full time staff of 7 and works with over 200 additional artists and volunteers each season. Look how far they've come!

The first play I saw at the Lantern was Long Day's Journey Into Night in 1996. I took my mother, who had seen the original production on Broadway some 40 years before, and she said two things: "it felt shorter than the original" and "it was better than the original." So many times over the years people have made similar statements to me about plays they have seen at the Lantern. Part of the reason, I am sure, is because of the Lantern's uniquely intimate theater space. But I think mostly it is because of the amazing quality of the Lantern's productions, which get better and better every year. Over the past seven years they have received more Barrymore nominations for Outstanding Overall Production of a Play than any other theater company in the region, an important indicator of the kind of work the Lantern offers its audiences. However, even with sold-out performances, ticket sales cover only 50% of the Lantern's operating costs. The rest is provided by generous supporters – people like you and me who believe in the work that the Lantern is doing.

If you appreciate, as I do, what the Lantern provides for you, it needs – and deserves – whatever support you can give. I can't wait to see what the Lantern does over the next 15 years. Look how far it's come already! Please join me in making a gift to the Lantern and see how far we can go together.

Sincerely,
Jay L. Goldberg
Retired Board Member