Attendance is up at Guthrie Theater for 1st full fiscal year at new complex

More productions and more performances resulted in an attendance jump of more than 80,000 in the Guthrie Theater's 2007-08 fiscal year.

The theater's annual report, issued Monday, showed that 425,894 tickets were sold to Guthrie programs in the year ended March 31, a 24 percent increase from 343,749 the previous year. This was the Guthrie's first full fiscal year in its new three-stage complex on the Mississippi River. That fact was also reflected in higher expenses and revenues.

Earned income -- which includes ticket sales, concessions, educational programs and concerts -- reached $14.7 million, up about 25 percent from the previous year. The total budget was $25.9 million, an increase of nearly $3 million from 2006-07. The theater was able to report a slight surplus of $29,336 on that budget. Two years ago, when the Guthrie split its time between the old theater on Vineland Place and the new complex, its budget was about $18 million.

Artistic, production and communication expenses rose more significantly than others -- though not radically. Jacques Brunswick, the chief administrative officer, said those figures reflect a more aggressive program of bringing work to audiences.

"We have a lot more stuff going on stage," he said.

Indeed, perhaps the most interesting figure is that 684 performances were held last year, fully one-third more than the 513 reported last year. Those performances played to an average of 85 percent capacity, down slightly from 87 percent in the previous year. The Guthrie uses three stages -- the 1,200-seat thrust, a 700-seat proscenium and a 200-seat studio.

Artistic director Joe Dowling said in a statement that his biggest concern going forward is "the economy, the economy, the economy."

Contributions rose over $7.2 million in the fiscal year with a slight increase in donors. The number of subscribers, however, dipped to 25,517 from 26,332 in 2006-07. The theater reported an endowment of $43.8 million, down from $46.1 million.

In his letter to the board and subscribers, Dowling noted that any institution in its sophomore year faces challenges "as familiarity replaces novelty and organizational weariness replaces the adrenaline of discovery." For that reason, he said he was pleased the Guthrie was able to report increases in financial and attendance categories.

Graydon Royce • 612-673-7299