Garbeau's Dinner Theatre in Rancho Cordova is facing possible closure next month. Mark Ferreira, CEO and co-owner of Garbeau's since June 2007, says he needs to raise $100,000 by the end of this month to satisfy his landlord, Lakha Investment Group.
Ferreira's for-profit theater had strong revenues the first nine months of his ownership and artistic direction of the theater business. But he ties his theater's problems to last year's crumbling economy - specifically gasoline prices.
"The last six months have been tough. Once gas hit $3.50 in just about a week we saw our averages drop in half," Ferreira says. "We were getting about 145 people a night and when gas spiked that dropped to about 60 to 70 patrons per show.
"For nine months, every month saw a revenue increase and we were dwarfing past revenue records. The only change between then and when we dropped to half-houses is the economy."
Ferreria says he hopes to raise money through the sales of either gift cards or season passes. Should Garbeau's have to close, many other area theaters are supporting the effort by saying they'll honor the season passes. Garbeau's Web site is listing the B Street Theater, California Musical Theatre and Stage Nine in Folsom as theaters that will in some way accommodate Garbeau's season ticket holders.
For more information go to www.garbeaus.com or call Garbeau's box office at (916) 985-6361.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.