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SALT LAKE CITY -- A Utah corporation has donated $100,000 to two performing arts organizations in Salt Lake City: Ballet West and Pioneer Theatre Company.
This September "Hamlet" will open the Pioneer Theatre Company season, and the production will be better than ever thanks to a donation from Myriad Genetics, a biopharmaceutical company in Salt Lake.
The dancers at Ballet West will be a little lighter on their toes this season, too, with the extra money.
"We are deeply grateful for it," said Johann Jacobs, executive director of Ballet West.
The $100,000 total is a big donation -- especially in this economy.
"Salt Lake County ZAP funds, which are derived from sales tax, have gone down almost 20 percent over the last two years; and other corporate giving, because of the economy, has gone down almost 20 percent," said Pioneer Theatre Company Managing Director Chris Lino.
Myriad Genetics President Peter Meldrum says his employees choose to give the money to the two performing arts companies.
"There's a real connection between the arts and science, and scientists love the arts," he said.
This won't be the last time the company donates.
"We will be donating, each year, at least $100,000 to at least two worthy organizations within the Salt Lake community," Meldrum said.
For Ballet West, this year it means hopefully things will get back to normal. For the past two years they've had layoffs, mandatory time off and salary freezes. Now, things are looking up.
"We are happy to report that we're finishing last season with a small operating surplus, and this generous gift makes us very hopeful for the coming season," Jacobs said.
For Pioneer Theatre Company, the money will go toward programming, new play projects and getting the set done for "Hamlet" opening night.
E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com
