Year of the Phoenix
Year of the Phoenix
Our community’s resilience in the face of a global pandemic was truly inspiring. Now, with your help, we have an opportunity to rise stronger than before!
From the ashes
The COVID-19 global pandemic created unprecedented difficulties for artists, closing stages for over a year. Unable to be with you in person, Penfold used this time to innovate and lay a critical foundation for what comes next.

Penfold Theatre began a multi-year series of new play commissions, beginning with A War of the Worlds, by Austin native Jarrett King. The series will employ local playwrights and explore the nature of “classic” works from a contemporary perspective.

We also partnered with local playwright, Monica Ballard, to create The Control Group, featured in KUT, Texas Monthly and The Austin Chronicle’s “Top 10 Works That Spoke to Me About 2020.” The piece connected participants from across the U.S. and Canada in 1-on-1 phone calls with artists. Together, they fought against the pandemic forces of isolation and division in a sci-fi setting.

Thanks to a generous grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies and expert consultation from the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, we completed our Vision 2025 Plan, which takes Penfold’s long tradition of reimagining classic works to a bold new level.

Help us rise
With your help, we can come back stronger than ever! Give to our “Year of the Phoenix” campaign and help us open a bold new chapter in Penfold’s history.
Pursuing Equity
Penfold Theatre’s vision statement declares that “We imagine a world that celebrates the humanity and uniqueness of every person.” On stage, that means telling stories that promote reflection and empathy. Off stage, it means intentionally structuring our organization to care for artists and audiences at every level.
Thank you
Penfold is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our work is made possible by the generous contributions of hundreds of supporters. Here’s a HUGE thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Year of the Phoenix campaign since the start of the pandemic.
Diane Abitua
Elisabeth Aulwurm
Ryan Bache & Brianne Klitgaard
Gwyn & Kevin Baird
Monica Ballard
Shirley & Felipe Benavides
Stephen Berg
Elizabeth Bernhardt
Penny Billingsley
Natalie Blackman
Tim Blackwood
Carol & Mark Boerger
The Boney Nelson Household
Jeff & Laura Bowen
Vikki Bowen
Rob Brown
Molly & John Bucy
Dede Bullock
Melissa Call
Joan Carr
Jennifer Charlton-Faia
Michelle Cheney
Sonal Chokshi
Robin Clark
Stacy Clarke
Bill Coats
Cheyenne Coffee
Laurie Coker
Terry & Wayne Cook
Shawn & Sarah Croft
Larry & Susie Crowder
The Crowder Watkiss Household
Jeremy Cudd
Candice Cummings Harris
Debbie Dean
Albert & Vicki Dennington
Lorraine Drummond
Sue & Martin Duncan
Terry Dunning
Ken & Nancy Einhorn
Tony Faia
Cathie Fincannon
Will & JoHanna Flacks-Dunning
Kathy & Randy Frederick
Mike & Starr Freeman
Mary Freytag
Diane Fulmer
Karen Gale
Hannah Garbacz
Justin & Jennifer Gerhardt
Carolyn Gilbert
Naomi Giroux
Kurang Gizi
Jonathan Grant
Richard Griffin
Christine & Gary Hallock
Mike & Theresa Harkins
Brenda Heeney
Melissa & Stephen Hileman
Margaret Hoard
Leanna Holmquist
Rufus & Margaret Honeycutt
Linda Hoops
Billie Jempty
Gary & Karen Jerkins
Julie Johnson
Linda Kay
Chrishaun Keller-Hanna
Marie & John Kilpatrick
Cathy Kincaid
Laura King
Arthur Kirkindall
Angela Kissel
Brianne Klitgaard & Ryan Bache
Ken & Patty Kohl
Negina Kolesar
Virginia Lannen
Cheryl Leggi
James Lindsay
Bill & Lisa Magro
Buffy & Ian Manners
The Fishney Household
Rebecca Maupin
John & Sandy May
Amy & Bob McAndrew
Melinda & Peter Mccarty
Vicki McKain
Judy Mcleod
The McMillin Furse Household
Rod Meek
Amy & Toby Minor
Jim & Ashley Morgan
Glenda Morrison
Walter Muse
Denise Myers
Jen Neve
Daniel O’brien
Dawn Orand
Rebecca Osborne
Gina Palluck
Bill & Mary Lu Palmer
John Parker
Alane Pearce
Laura Phelan
Sylverre Joy Polhemus
Ryan Pollack
Steven & Hope Pounders
Linda Powers
The Adamo Pratt Household
Edna Rehbein
Dale & Randy Ricklefs
Inge Rider
Jon & Jessica Ridge
Christopher & Sarah Riehl
Anna Jane Riehl
Joseph Riggs
Randy Robinson
Kristie Robles
Mary Sue Rose
Doris Sanchez
Lisa Scheps
Jasmine Schimmel
Mary Kay Schittone
Lori Scott
Stephan Sheets
Terry Slater
Julie Slim-Nassif
Debbie Smith
Greg Smith
Carolyn Smith
Diana Spain
Kenny & Ashley Spain
Lisa Sparkman
Denise Steusloff
Gene & Tracie Storie
Kathryn Stubbs
Lucia Summers
Bob Tolaro
Lauren & Dee Travis
Carol & Carol Trovall
Sean Tucker
Elysia Van Deusen
Colby Verrett
Cindy Villanueva
Pamela von Mende
Laura Walberg
Lisa & Bill Warne-Magro
The Watkiss Rienstra Household
Brett Weaver
Brett Weaver
Ben & Erin West
Crystal Wiley
Jackie Wilkins
Scot & Carol Wilkinson
Michael Wood
Kathy & Roger Wright
Wendy Zavaleta
Beatriz & Jaime Zilveti