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Stamford Theatre Works will discontinue its programming and dissolve its theater operations after 20 years of producing professional Equity theater in Stamford, Connecticut. The announcement was made by Steve Karp, STW's founder and producing director, who said in a press statement, "Over the last five years, our ability to raise money could not keep pace with our increasing operating expenses, and we found ourselves with an overwhelming accumulating deficit."

The theater recently completed a run of Neil LaBute's The Mercy Seat, but will not be able to stage the remaining shows in its season, which included John Cariani's Almost, Maine, John Patrick Shanley's Defiance, Tom Dudzick's Greetings, and Michael John LaChiusa's musical, First Lady Suite. Subscribers have been notified via mail that they can convert their subscriptions for the remaining 2008-09 productions into tax deductible donations. The 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization will negotiate a settlement with its creditors.

The theater was founded in 1988 by Karp, a professional theatre and film producer, director, writer, actor and Stamford native. Over the years, it received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and numerous awards from the Connecticut Critics Circle for outstanding work, including "Outstanding Contribution to Connecticut Theatre" in 1997.

For further information, call 203-359-4414.