Money needed for Flatawater Shakespeare and The Haymarket Theatre -- and an Award.

For my art work, but mainly my theatre work here in Lincoln Nebraska, I have been named artist of the year for 2010 by the Nebraska Governor's Arts award committee -- really the Nebraska Arts Council, since the Governor has never seen my work. But he will hand me some sort of award and that's nice. Hopefully the two theatre projects I run will be able to make some hay out of this to get grants.

The recession has left us in a parlous state and both projects, Flatwater Shakespeare and the Haymarket Theatre are in desperate need of funds to keep going. (No, the Governor's Arts Award does not include any cash -- that kind of funding just isn't available in Nebraska. It has been my dream for years to establish a professional regional theatre here in Lincoln and these two projects, which have been lauded by critics and theatre fans alike, were on their way to becoming just that, when the recession through everything into doubt. It's cheaper to do things out here on the great plains, but by the same token there is, under the best of circumstances, less money floating around in terms of grants, corporate support and private donations. We are in desperate need of funds to keep going until the economy gets better -- assuming that it will. And for those of you who know me personally we need money to keep me employed so I can do the stuff I do well.

If you want to help, send a donation to The Haymarket Theatre, 803 Q St. Lincoln Ne 68508 and write Bob's Blog on the memo line. Anything we get with that memo will be split 50/50 between Flatwater Shakespeare and The Haymarket Theatre.

Thanks for your help.

Bob Hall