The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse is a major cultural and economic asset in Cayuga County. Over the years, we have grown into one of the largest summer attractions in the Finger Lakes region and now provide one of the largest touring youth theatres in the country. In 2005, we drew 71% of our musical theatre audience from outside of Cayuga County - adding significant tourism dollars to our local economy. At the height of our season, the Playhouse alone employs over 150 people who eat in area restaurants and do their general shopping here. Additionally, 75% of our Youth Theatre revenue comes from outside the county, and is in turn, spent in this community. Research studies for the performing arts reveal that for every dollar spent on the arts anywhere from $4 to $10 is returned to the host community. Considering the Merry-Go-Round's annual budget and box office revenues, the Playhouse's impact, conservatively, is $8 to $10 million per year to the local economy.
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spite of these positive numbers, ticket revenues are not enough
to maintain the high level of the productions we provide our audiences.
We depend upon the support of individual patrons, area businesses,
government grants and foundations to
continue providing the consistent top quality that our ever growing
audience has come to expect. Funds raised are used to hire the
best performers, directors, choreographers and designers around,
giving credo to our nickname, Broadway in the Finger
Lakes. Similarly, financial support is critical to the Youth Theatre, which serves over 125,000 students across upstate New York each school year. Not only do our touring companies educate our young people, they also cultivate a new generation of theatre-goers. As a not-for-profit company and federally recognized 501(c)3 charitable institution, any donation made to the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse is tax deductible to the extend allowed by law and all contributions are recognized either in our Season Playbill or on our website. To make your contribution to the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, use our printer friendly donation form by clicking the link above. We appreciate your support and thank you! We hope we will see you soon for another great season of Broadway in the Finger Lakes! |
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