Festival Expresses Thanks in Reaching 'Believe in One Million' Goal 

By Liz Armstrong, guest writer

“I can no other answer make but thanks and thanks, and ever thanks.” – Twelfth Night 

In 2023, the Utah Shakespeare Festival launched the Believe Campaign to inspire connectivity, asking beloved patrons to believe in the power of live theatre. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our donors and patrons, who came together in 2024 to help our goal of one million dollars in Individual Giving become a reality. 

For year two of the three-year campaign, the Festival launched “Believe In One Million.” As a nonprofit organization, the Festival relies heavily on donations from individuals, businesses, government, and corporations. 

Development Associate Emily Cacho explained that to emphasize the importance of giving, this campaign was launched to inspire patrons to help the Festival reach its goal of one million dollars in Individual Giving.

“Believe In One Million was the goal [in 2024],” Development Associate Cacho said. “We usually get around $850,000 each year from individuals, and we wanted to push the marker further.” 

With our donors’ help and extreme generosity, the Festival not only met this goal– but exceeded it. 

“The Believe Campaign went really well. Our donors are really important to us and they all came together to help make our $1,00,000 goal possible,” Cacho expressed. 

Cacho expresses a heartfelt thank you and explains that the idea for the Believe campaign hearkens back to the beloved moment in Peter Pan when the audience is asked to believe in order to save Tinkerbell: the Festival is asking patrons to believe in hope and good and the magic it brings.  

Our beloved patrons did just that.

“I believe in the Utah Shakespeare Festival and the magic it has provided over my time here the past eight years and I think our donors and patrons believe just as strongly as I do,” Cacho said. “It is amazing what we have been able to accomplish together.” 

To witness for yourself what this goal will help the Festival achieve and to immerse yourself in the magic Cacho refers to, purchase tickets to the 2025 season today. Enjoy the power of live theatre with Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, and As You Like It;the comedy The Importance of Being Earnest; the musical comedy A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder; the touching Steel Magnolias; and the endearing Dear Jack, Dear Louise.

“We are so excited and grateful,” Cacho concluded. “This will mean a great start to 2025 and will continue on for years to come."