Dark Days at the Museum by / Theatre Bay Area Staff

Racked by debt and dwindling donations, the Museum of Performance & Design reported in June that it must raise $200,000 by July 15 or close its doors. Having preserved the history of Bay Area performing arts since 1947, the museum boasts a collection of 4 million items covering all areas of the performing arts from the Gold Rush through today. The collection includes original costumes, sheet music, sound recordings, posters, oral histories, photos, programs, video recordings of performances large and small and the archives of artists such as choreographer Anna Halprin, conductor Calvin Simmons and designers Sandra Woodall and Eiko Ishioka. The museum laid off half of its staff and reduced its exhibition hours to one day a week, with the library open only by appointment. Check mpdsf.org or call (415) 255-4800 to find out how you can help preserve the collection and the venerable institution itself.