Despite Support, Pittsburgh's PICT Forced to Lay Off Nearly All Its Staff | Playbill

News Despite Support, Pittsburgh's PICT Forced to Lay Off Nearly All Its Staff Following the cancellation of productions earlier this year, the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre has had to lay off five full-time staff members and artistic director Alan Stanford continues to work without a salary, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

According to the news source, the theatre's CFO Rebecca McNeil remains on staff, while the rest of the administration is run by volunteers.

PICT was forced to cancel productions of Saint Joan and The Tempest earlier in the year due to budget constraints. Thanks to the immediate support of donations, the theatre has been able to raise the money needed to move ahead with the scheduled final show of the season, Oliver Twist, set to run Dec. 2-19.

Stanford told the Post-Gazette that he is hoping to raise enough money to bring staff back but that PICT also remains focused on paying the company's debts. "We will continue to produce quality theater, but there is still a long way to go," he said.

"While we’re proud of how much support we’ve received in so short a period of time, we are not yet on solid ground," PICT board chairman Charles Moellenberg added. “We are alive, but we are operating on a tight budget, with minimal staff and many bills to pay."

Despite funding shortfalls, Stanford told the Post-Gazette that he remains hopeful about the future of the theatre. "The generous response we’ve received to our appeal is confirmation that PICT has a place in this community and in the hearts of many people,” he commented. "I’m not saying it is going to be easy, but I’m excited for next season." Visit PICT for more information on the theatre and its season.

 
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