Hello friends,

2024 has been a year of growth for Tonic Theater Company thanks to the generosity of our supporters, like you. It’s proof positive that every dollar counts. This past year, as theater companies large and small struggled with the lingering effects of the pandemic, Tonic has been grateful for your support. In the coming year, Tonic needs our friends and allies more than ever. We can accomplish a lot with your help and I hope you’ll continue to support our mission. Here are some of the things your donation during last year’s Giving Tuesday and throughout the year helped Tonic accomplish in 2024.

In the past year, Tonic purchased much of the equipment needed to have live stream and capture abilities in-house, allowing us more flexibility and to save on rental equipment and put more money into productions. That’s thanks to individual donations and a grant from the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH). In 2025, with your help, Tonic will stream and capture shows for students in Washington, DC, and beyond. It’s the beginning of a reach that’s only limited by access to the internet and can bring theater to students of all ages regardless of location or physical or financial means.

Through your support, Tonic participated in the first DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia) Democracy Festival with a reading of No Sense of Decency, by Richard Vetere. Your donations paid the actors and director for their participation.

By participating in the Democracy Festival and streaming theater into schools Tonic is more deeply involved with our community. Your donations gave us the ability to expand who we serve and how. I also gave us the financial breathing room to participate as stakeholders in projects that will have a broad positive impact in our community. For instance, Tonic is encouraging the District Government, the DowntownDC Business Improvement District, and other organizations to include a Theater Row in plans to create a theater district in Downtown DC as part of the overall revitalization effort. The idea, proved in NYC years ago, is that a few blocks of storefront theaters where small theater companies can produce shows year round will help bring much needed foot traffic, and revenue, back downtown.

Serving our community on a deeper level is the driving force behind Tonic Grange. Based on the idea of a farmers’ grange, Tonic Theater Company seeks to make a community hub that houses the theater company, an urban vertical controlled environment agriculture (CEA) farm, and a restaurant to repurpose food rescue into meals for the homeless. It’s a tall order, I know, but as a nonprofit that serves the community, we can and should do more. Tonic is working with partners to plan Tonic Grange and make it a reality.

I’ll discuss Tonic Grange and Tonic’s live-streaming initiatives in future emails. For now, you can read more about the Grange here.

Please support Tonic Theater Company with a one-time or a recurring monthly donation by giving what you can, every donation helps and is appreciated. Together we can and are changing what community means to Tonic and how Tonic serves that community.

From all of us at Tonic Theater Company, thank you for your trust and support.

Be well,

Kurt Elftmann

Founder | Producing Artistic Director

Tonic Theater Company and Tonic Grange

Tonic Giving Tuesday

With your help, we've made great strides. Let's keep the momentum going!

Team Members