18 THE QUEENS COURIER • AUGUST 28, 2014 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com Secret Theatre turns to fundraising campaign to survive BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com @aaltamirano28 One Long Island City theatre is looking to raise enough money to help keep its doors open. Richard Mazda, founder of the Secret Theatre, located at 44-02 23rd St., has started an Indiegogo fundraising campaign after having to deal with fi nancial diffi culties starting in late 2012. The difficulties came after the Department of Buildings found the landlord’s certifi cate of occupancy was out of date, which meant that Mazda had to pay DOB fi nes, hire architects to get correct permits in place and also move the site’s Little Theatre to an alternative spot in the 23rd Street building. “We were under the threat of closing one space and just having the big theatre, or closing both spaces and literally calling it a day,” Mazda said. “No matter how hard we tried we couldn’t dig our way out just from our normal thin profi t margin.” Mazda continued to explain that the Secret Theatre breaks even with the money coming in from ticket sales, but to pay for the “unexpected costs” they now had to turn to the community to help cover some debts and also continue offering programs to the community. The Secret Theatre opened in 2007 and has since produced weekly children’s theatre shows, held classes for students, provided coaching services, and produced in-house and co-produced productions. “I am comfortable that we will raise a good amount of money,” Mazda said. Richard Mazda hopes to raise enough money on an Indiegogo fundraising campaign to keep the doors of the Secret Theatre in Long Island City open. “I am very moved by the support we are receiving so far and I look forward to being able to thank more people.” Along with raising the money to pay for expenses, Mazda also said he hopes to bring change to the Secret Theatre and turn it into a nonprofi t organization. The Indiegogo campaign has a goal of $10,000 and will run until Sept. 4. “At this point in time I don’t think we will close. We are still in trouble, but the reaction from people has been incredible,” Mazda said. For more information visit secrettheatre. com. To donate to the Secret Theatre’s fundraising campaign, visit www.indiegogo.com/projects/can-youkeep the-secret. Photo by Orestes Gonzalez Wishing America’s Work Force A Happy and Safe Labor Day COUNCIL MEMBER MARK S. WEPRIN 73-03 Bell Boulevard Oakland Gardens, New York 11364 718-468-0137 MWeprin@Council.NYC.gov Life is full of risks! Are you protected? Without the proper insurance protection you could be financially devastated. The insurance experts at MEMBER BROKERAGE SERVICE, LLC, will help protect you from these unforeseen hazards AND save you money in the process. We offer you flexible and affordable terms with NO broker fees. • Automobile Insurance • Homeowners & Renters Insurance • Disability Insurance • Long-Term Care Insurance For more information, call MBS at (718) 523-1300 or stop by our office. MBS is a member of the Professional Insurance Agents Association. INSURANCE INSURANCE A Melrose Credit Union Service Organization 139-30 Queens Blvd., Briarwood, NY 11435 Phone: (718) 523-1300 Fax: (718) 526-1205 A Melrose Credit Union Service Organization www.memberbrokerage.com INSURANCE 139-30 Queens Blvd., Briarwood, NY 11435 Phone: (718) 523-1300 Fax: (718) 526-1205 A Melrose Credit Union Service Organization 139-30 Queens Blvd., Briarwood, NY 11435 Phone: (718) 523-1300 Fax: (718) 526-1205 www.memberbrokerage.com www.memberbrokerage.com INSURANCE A Melrose Credit Union Service Organization 139-30 Queens Blvd., Briarwood, NY 11435 Phone: (718) 523-1300 Fax: (718) 526-1205 • Life & Health Insurance • Business Insurance • Workers Compensation & DBL
QC08282014
To see the actual publication please follow the link above