Founder and producing director of Charleston Stage, Julian Wiles, in The Post and Courier:
In my 31 years at the helm of Charleston Stage, I have never seen anything like the current across-the-board fundraising shortfalls that the arts organizations and nonprofits in Charleston are presently facing.

Charleston Stage, while not on the brink of shutting down, has cut their full-time staff by three employees to 10, and cut the remaining staff's pay by 6%. The group had already cut their budget by some 16% last summer.

The group needs to raise $200,000 -- $100,000 of that by year to keep going. Just more than half of their budget comes from fund raising. You can donate online.

I'm sure they're thrilled that a plan is finally shaping up to help smaller theaters.

Charleston Stage's production of "A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas" starts Thursday, December 4, and runs through the 21st. Tickets are $41 ($15 student), and the group is offering a limited amount of $10 bargain seats. Buy online.