With its finances already in disarray, the Overture Center on Tuesday ended its special six-month budgeting period $275,000 over budget.
On Monday, it cut two staff positions - vice president of communications Jonathan Zarov and promotions coordinator Anna Hahm - geared toward balancing its 2009-2010 budget, which runs from July 1 to the end of next June.
In 2008, the Madison Cultural Arts District, which manages Overture, was $836,000 over budget. The picture for the first six months of this year wasn't pretty. Wages and benefits were $100,000 more than projected, artist fees $50,000 more, ticket sales down more than $100,000, interest income down $77,000.
But Overture president Tom Carto remains upbeat, saying ticket sales for upcoming shows are up over last year. He expects Overture to break even for the year.
"The 2009-2010 budget is looking very good right now," Carto says. "Lion King is going to be a big help with that. And we already see our [ticket] subscriptions are really moving quickly."
