SEASON ONE IMPACT

The Classics Company incorporated in January 2025, and set July 1–June 30 as our Fiscal Year. The incorporating Board of Directors passed an eighteen-month initial budget that covered January 2025 through June 2026. The following are results from the eighteen months.

Our Rochester community came to support the classics in our 80-seat intimate theatre space. With 78% of seats sold across the performances, some were delighted to luxuriate in Chekhov for a whole season, others had never heard of him, and some were downright scared. Nevertheless, we are proud to have shared Chekhov with nearly 2,000 Rochesterians.

A whopping 83% of our first year’s revenue came from season subscribers and donors. We felt so supported by our community. A small theatre can often get bogged down by overhead and administration. Our first year proved that Founding Artist Director Mark Cuddy knows how to prioritize artistic production. 73% of our expenses were for artistic production; Cuddy receives no comepnsation.

Our Season One scholars provided critical context for artists and audiences alike. They joined us for both in-person and online programming. Our Russian cultural consultants included Alex Miokovic from Rochester Institute of Technology on Visual Art, Lisa Jenelski from Eastman School of Music on Music, and Peter Bagrov from George Eastman Museum on Chekhov Captured in Performance.

Leveraging our amazing educational institutions means a fuller, richer world for theatre–makers and theatre–goers. A play exists in context and we believe this is a key approach to understanding the classics.

The Classics Company has, from the start, relieved cost barriers. In addition to keeping our ticket cost low and standard for all seating, we offer discounts for those ages 25 and under. Engaging young theatre–goers is a nationwide concern in the theatre world. Nearly 100 Rochester young people came to see a Chekhov play: that’s 5% of our total audience. We will also continue $10 Tuesdays that is open to our entire community. In our first season, 145 folks took advantage. We hope to see this attendance increase for season two! Classics must remain for all.