PRIME Productions

 Benjamin Franklin read our minds when he said:       

                            And “best of all, older women are so grateful!”                                                                                                                        

OK, so the quirky statesman was talking about something entirely different than donating to a theater company that promotes substantive and revolutionary roles for mature women. But he nailed it. 

We are so grateful that lovers of good theater support PRIME’S goal of presenting women over 50 in such a way that a 13-year-old girl sees her grandmother as a three-dimensional role model; where a 35-year-old woman realizes there’s a lot more living and loving to do; and where the journey of mature characters appeals to both men and women, young and old. 

Because of art-lovers like you, our 2023 co-production with Park Square Theatre of THE REVOLUTIONISTS by Lauren Gunderson was an unqualified success, surpassing all projected ticket sales. We are currently producing a three-play series of readings at three different venues and are looking forward to next season when we can stage a full production.

And while we would love to report that we’ve been able to bounce back from the pandemic, theaters everywhere are still in recovery. Audience habits have shifted to include online viewing and there’s still some reluctance by many to take a seat in crowded theater as frequently as before.                                

We at PRIME believe that the communal experience of live artists on a stage communicating with a live audience is the ultimate theatrical experience. It is something unique that only happens in that particular way once. The actors are impacted by the audience, just as the audience is by the actors.  

 This fall we’ve been producing our third installment of PRIME Voices; A Staged Reading Series with three outstanding plays. October’s offering was THE OLDEST PROFESSION by Paula Vogel and was sold out a week before the reading!  November’s THE MOST SPECTACULARLY LAMENTABLE TRIAL OF MIZ MARTHA WASHINGTON by James Ijames went quickly. And our final reading, FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70TH BIRTHDAY by Sarah Ruhl, is well on its way. And while we’re thrilled that these readings, which we are able to offer for free as a gift to our supporters due to a generous MSAB grant, are hot commodities, they are not an income source. They are an entertaining way for us to take a look at plays that we find compelling but are often too expensive or too controversial to produce as a full performance. We hope these readings will inspire you to make a substantial contribution to PRIME 

As we prepare for our next season, we are counting on people like you to help us make our mission a reality; to help us be equitable in what we pay our artists; and to expand our vision to include all viewpoints in order to entertain, enlighten and open hearts and minds.

 Your gift to PRIME, of any amount, will help create that change. And by becoming a sustaining donor, your gift will help us with long-range planning (another thing Benjamin Franklin believed in).

  We are grateful and appreciative. We know there are lots of causes to give to and are thankful for your support.

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up to receive announcements of our upcoming events.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Thank you!

Shelli and Alison  

 Stay up to date with PRIME at primeprods.org