Signing the Contract

Dear Friends,

Yesterday afternoon Don Toner signed our contract to purchase our building site in the Mueller Town Center. We are the first business to have a signed contract for the Town Center portion of the Mueller development and we are incredibly proud. We have accomplished a tremendous amount already, and  we're confident we're on the right path to making our dream a reality. Thank you to everyone who has helped us reach this milestone and especially to our attorney, Gary Greif and our architect, Scott Ginder.

What we've already done:
-Our site plan was submitted in November. The site plan approval process can take several months, so it was crucial that we started the process as soon as possible.
-We have raised almost $400,000 in pledges and contributions. During the first phase of our fundraising efforts we reached out to our long-time supporters. We've been very gratified by their initial outpouring of support for this project.

What will happen next:
-We anticipate closing within 60 days as soon as the remainder of our financing is in place. 
-We will begin construction as soon as closing occurs and the site plan is approved. We are currently estimating construction will begin in late February. Construction will take six to seven months to complete and we will open our new theatre in Fall 2012.
-We will expand our fundraising efforts to include the greater Austin community, foundations, and corporations.

In the meantime:
-Our 2011-2012 season will continue in our temporary facility. You'll be able to see the progress on the building each time you visit the theatre.
-Upcoming productions include Boeing-Boeing, January 27 - February 26, and A Room With a View, running March 23 - April 22.

How you can help:
We are financing the project by a combination of individual contributions and innovative loan programs through the City of Austin's Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office. If you would like to make a contribution or pledge, please visit our website.

Thank you for your continued support. We couldn't do it without you!

Sincerely,
Lara Toner and your friends at Austin Playhouse