By Richard Schultz - Jan. 1, 2015

While the economy continues to improve, there has been one more casualty of the Great Recession. Actors Theatre, a theater company for more than 30 yearsin the Valley, has announced that it has taken its final bow and will close in early 2015.

Artists and staff learned of the closure Dec. 18 after the Actors Theatre board of directors unanimously voted to cease operations and liquidate the professional theater company and “work through its outstanding obligations to the best of our ability,” according to Renee Gerstman, board president.

“The simple truth is we’re out of money,” Gerstman said.

This latest development is not entirely unexpected. Recent years have been a bumpy ride for this local company. In 2010, the last year they produced their iconic A Christmas Carol, Actors Theatre and Arizona Theatre Company entered into talks to explore a merger between the two companies.

In 2011, the conversations ended when it was mutually agreed upon not to merge. Then, hopes were raised again in 2012 when a very successful grassroots three-phase fundraising campaign tripled individual donor base, allowing the company to continue operations.

Yet, after losing two major grants in 2013, the company ended its 20-year residency at the Herberger Theater Center and began a somewhat nomadic existence, producing in different venues including most recently the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, home of the Black Theatre Troupe in central Phoenix.

“We recognized that what Actors Theatre does and, most importantly, the way we do it is not sustainable in our community at this time. Among our strongest guiding principles is to pay everyone – and that includes artists and arts workers – a living wage,” he said.

Known for its thought-provoking and edgy shows, Actors Theatre possessed a Broadway sensibility, often premiering new works in the Valley that had generated critical acclaim in both New York and other major arts markets.

“We are incredibly proud of Actors Theatre’s legacy.” Wiener, who has been artistic director for 19 years remarked, “We know that many patrons left most of our productions affected by and talking about what they saw on stage. In spite our deep, deep sadness at this time, we do know that there are many great arts and cultural opportunities in the Valley. Perhaps we will be part of them again sometime in the future.”