Recently, actors took their last bow at the Intiman Theatre until the next season in 2012. The theatre has been having financial issues, failing to meet its budget goals for this year. The Intiman failed to raise $500,000 by the end of March, forcing it to temporarily close its doors. The Intiman has won multiple awards such as the Tony Award in 2006 for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Recognized as one of the biggest theatres in the city, the closure was shocking to the Seattle art scene. Theatre goers who already bought tickets for the season will not get refunds for their purchases. However, those whose tickets were canceled are getting a tax deductible receipt for the amount they spent. The tickets are also being accepted at a variety of other theatres in the city such as the Seattle Children's Theatre and the Seattle Rep.

Bruce Bradburn, President of the Intiman Theatre Board Trustees wrote a letter to the public explaining why they had to make the hard decision.

"Our primary intent has been and continues to be to preserve the future of Intiman, and our hope was to save the season, too. Simultaneous efforts to accomplish both are simply unattainable."

Shortage of funds means that jobs were also cut, leaving actors unemployed but still compensated as they finished up their last show of "All My Sons." Other employees that worked at the theatre were also terminated.

Despite an anonymous donation of $100,000 given on March 25th, the theatre could not stay aflot. The donation was notable for its size, signifying the pull the theatre has within Seattle's cultural circles.

The closure not only affected the employees that worked there, but theatre students from Seattle University as well. Ki Gottberg, Seattle U theatre professor, said that she recently received an email from the Intiman saying how sorry they were for not being able to use her work anymore that had been planned to show during the summer.

"The health of all our cultural institutions are totally interdependent, it is an ecosystem that is nourished and fed by all the organizations and the artists who work in them, as well as by a curious public eager to engage with the art," said Gottberg.

Theatre goers will have no choice but to wait until the Intiman reopens in 2012. Until then, Susan Trapnell who has 30-years of theatre managing experience, has been trusted to lead the Intiman to a successful future.

"Susan has a proven track record in helping theatres like ours move from fix-it mode to long-range sustainability," said Kim Anderson, co-president of the Intiman Theatre Board of Trustees.

Trapnell has taken over management and is working on improvement of the theatre by critical planning and more fund raising, hoping for a strong start in 2012.

Sopeary may be reached at soks1@seattleu.edu