2008 WRAP-UP: TAKE THE NEXT STEP...
December 18th, 2008

Dear Friends,

Standing in a dark corner watching my company bow after their first ever performance, a man behind me shouted “I have no idea what just happened…but I want more!” Somehow fighting off the urge to spin around and give a dissertation on my artistic vision, I managed a smiling glance in his direction, thinking “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet…”

This past year has been full of success for M. STUART DANCE THEATRE, due in large part to your love and continuing generosity. Amazing opportunities lie ahead in 2009, but we need your support to help fully realize them. The next few months are going to be the toughest we’ve seen yet and we are relying on you more than ever to help shape the future of our company. Please take a few minutes to read below about some of our 2008 achievements and our goals for 2009. If you like what you read, please consider donating $25 or more now to help us build our current success into a sustainable future. Here’s a bit of what 2008 held in store…

      •    M. STUART DANCE THEATRE premieres at the Garden State Dance Festival in            Philadelphia and New Jersey to sold out audiences and have been invited to return             for the 2009 Festival.
      •    Mark Stuart Eckstein assists Tony-nominated choreographer Chris Gattelli in Lincoln            Center’s Annual Spring Gala.
      •    M. STUART DANCE THEATRE takes Japan by storm…
                 - Adealani & Mark perform in a nationally televised concert at Tokyo Opera Hall.                     Watch the video... 
                 - An M. STUART rehearsal is featured on a Japanese Television special                     documenting the pursuit of artistic dreams in New York City. Watch the video...  
                 - Mark and several company members perform in the ‘08 Japanese Tour of Swing!                     visiting Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.
      •    Mark Stuart Eckstein’s choreography receives critical acclaim for Maine State Music            Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar featuring performances by several            M.STUART company members. Read more... 
      •    Throughout the year M. STUART company members appeared on national television            on Bravo’s Step It Up and Dance, on Broadway in productions of Equus, In The            Heights, and Cry Baby, at the Metropolitan Opera, in the Radio City Christmas            Spectacular, as well as in Las Vegas in Cirque Du Soleil’s Zoomanity.

Upon our return to New York in September, M. STUART DANCE THEATRE began rehearsals working towards our first full-evening presentation, an original all-dance musical entitled Resonance.

We had the tremendous opportunity to present the idea of Resonance to a panel of some of the biggest producers on Broadway just a few weeks ago. They were not only impressed by the idea, but eager to see a performance of the piece to judge it’s potential for moving forward towards an Off-Broadway or Broadway production. Needless to say…we are thrilled and excited…

To mount our production, we are looking to rent a theatre in midtown Manhattan for two nights early this spring. One performance will be open to the public and one will be strictly for Broadway producers, investors, and general managers. We hope that this mounting will bring us the type of investors that can help bring our show to a larger and more diverse audience as well as make the company financially sustainable for years to come.

In order to accomplish our goal, we need your help. Just one hour of rehearsal in New York City can cost us up to $40 an hour. A one-day theatre rental can cost up to $2000. Please consider donating $25 or more to help us cover the rising costs of rehearsal and performance space, costume design and production, and administrative overhead. Your financial support is vital to all aspects of the success of this company.

We understand the challenges that the current economic situation presents. However, now is the time to support and maintain the arts as a vehicle to inspire, educate, and entertain.

Know that your creative and emotional support is appreciated as much as your financial contribution. Please remember, all donations are tax deductible and should be made payable to Dance Theater Workshop (DTW). To contribute, go to www.mstuartdancetheatre.com/html/supportus.html .

Thank you for supporting and believing in us. We wish you and your family love, peace, and light in the new year.

Sincerely,
Mark Stuart Eckstein
Founder, Artistic Director
M. Stuart Dance Theatre

Mark Stuart Eckstein is a member artist of Dance Theater Workshop, Inc., a non-profit tax-exempt organization. Contributions in support of Mark Stuart Eckstein’s work are greatly appreciated and may be made payable to Dance Theater Workshop, Inc., earmarked for “the Dance Theater Workshop member project of Mark Stuart Eckstein.” A description of the work and current project activities for which such contributions will be used are available from Mark Stuart Eckstein or Dance Theater Workshop, upon request. All contributions are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law. (Note: A copy of Dance Theater Workshop’s latest annual financial report filed with the New York State Department of State may be obtained by writing to the N.Y.S. Dept. of State, Charities Registration, 162 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12231, or to Dance Theater Workshop, 219 West 19 th Street, New York, NY, 10011)

Download the Full Letter Here (PDF)