Nutcracker leaves NBC $290,000 short.TORONTO--National Ballet of Canada ended its last fiscal year deep in the red, but the company believes it can return to a break-even level this year with the aid of its year-old hightech production of The Nutcracker and a full slate Any political party or faction that seeks to form a majority in a parliament or on a board of directors or other responsible body typically must run a full slate if only to demonstrate that they have the capacity to attract the talent to fill every position with some person, even if that of other ballets. It was Nutcracker and its $1.8 million start-up costs that were responsible for leaving the company with its first deficit in five years. NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. said that it posted a deficit of $290,000 in United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. dollars for the 1995-96 fiscal year. "We are confident that this investment in the future of the company, through The Nutcracker, will result in substantial payback for our artists, audiences and to our bottom line," said company chairman James Pitblado. NBC's executive director, Valerie Wilder, explained that part of the problem lies in the company's conservative accounting. She said the full cost of the production was written off in the year, rather than amortized--or stretched--over several seasons. But Wilder had no doubt the company would be operating in the black this season. 'We are absolutely committed to, and are in, a break-even position for this year," she told Dance Magazine. NBC's Nutcracker was completely revamped last season in artistic director James Kudelka's new version, a production greeted warmly by critics for its new high-tech sheen as well as new artistic directions for the annual show that they had said had been getting a little tired. Audiences also liked it, judging by the packed houses for most performances. NBC spokeswoman Julia Drake said the production was 86 percent sold out and drew 63,000 people, or 46 percent more than the previous year. NBC leaders hope Nutcracker can repeat its success and will be opening the show a week earlier than last year, on December 12. It runs through January 5. NBC's deficit was probably a fitting end to what was likely one of the most difficult years in the company's illustrious history. The company was stunned stun tr.v. stunned, stun·ning, stuns 1. To daze or render senseless, by or as if by a blow. 2. To overwhelm or daze with a loud noise. 3. by a $315,000 cut in its funding from the Ontario Arts Council The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is a Canadian organization in the province of Ontario whose purpose is to fund professional arts activity. Founded in 1963 by Levi Pettler, OAC has played a vital role in promoting and assisting the development of the arts and artists for the in midst of its season as the new Ontario provincial government sharply pared its funding for the arts in Canada's most populous province. Then-artistic director Reid Anderson cited the funding cutback cut·back n. 1. A decrease; a curtailment: "The political effects of food cutbacks could be devastating" New York Times. 2. as a reason for his departure for the directorship of Stuttgart Ballet Stuttgart Ballet, the first major German ballet company. The company, housed in the Württemberg Staatstheater, rose rapidly to fame in the 1960s under the direction of John Cranko (1927–73), who left his position as staff choreographer of Great Britain's . Despite the setbacks, NBC is optimistic about its new season. Anderson was replaced by Kudelka, a longtime NBC choreographer who was well regarded in the artistic community. As well, the revenue woes did not affect NBC's planned move from its cramped quarters in downtown Toronto Downtown Toronto is the heart of the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is approximately bounded by Bloor Street (including areas slightly north of Bloor around Yonge Street) to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, Bayview Avenue - Don Valley Parkway to the east, and Bathurst to the new, more spacious Walter Carsen Centre Walter Carsen Centre in Toronto, Canada is the current home of the National Ballet of Canada and is located at 470 Queen's Quay West. It was named to honour patron of the arts Walter Carsen. on the city's lakefront. Wilder said the company was running a very tight ship, and with NBC getting 26 percent of its $13 million in revenues last year from government grants, the chance of any more funding cuts was not something she wanted to contemplate. "I think it's an area we have to be concerned about, because policy can change very quickly," she said. "One always worries about the kind of huge slash that we took from the Ontario Arts Council." |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion