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Philadelphia Theater Company Gearing Up For 40th Anniversary Season

By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - After months of financial uncertainty, the Philadelphia Theater Company is gearing up to open the curtains on its 40th anniversary season -- and hopes are high.

It's basically the little theater that could...

"If you can make it through and still be here with a loyal audience, I think you can get a pat on the back," says Sara Garonzik, executive producing director.

Listen to the full interview with Sara Garonzik in this CBS Philly Podcast (trt: 16:30)...

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She says changing times and a mortgage on the Suzanne Roberts Theater threatened the future of the Philadelphia Theater Company, but a $2.5-million donation from the Roberts Foundation saved the day.

Now the theater is reorganizing and refocused on doing what it does best.

"This is a year when we are back and we are getting stronger and getting stronger every day," says Garonzik, noting they're hoping the award-winning opening production -- Detroit-- will prove it.

"It's not about the motor city, it's not about the music, it's not about the car industry -- it's about the American Dream, she explains. "It gets to the underlying anxiety we have these days, about will we be okay-- will we have our job."

Previews begin tonight, with opening day on October 15th.

For more on PTC's 40th anniversary season, CLICK HERE.

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