Writing respectfully as treasurer of Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, I would like to make known to our thousands of audience members and many hundreds of generous patrons, that the town of Tisbury has decided arbitrarily — and without offering us a hearing — to deny property tax exemption for our playhouse.

This abrupt departure is announced despite our federal and state classification as a 501(c)3 charity since 1982 and our town-approved tax exempt status since we purchased the building in 1993. The assessors’ office informed us that we must pay our first installment on the property tax or forfeit any right of appeal. We have canvassed Massachusetts and can find no other theatre being taxed like this. We struggle to make our annual budget, and this tax will inflict a large burden on us.

According to the assessor’s office letter, “the dominant purposes and activities (of a charitable organization) must benefit the public at large and not just a limited group of people.”

If individuals in the assessor’s office are unaware of MV Playhouse’s longstanding commitment to the welfare of all Tisbury and Island residents and visitors, i.e. “the public at large,” let me describe some of our programs.

Our Patricia Neal Stage attracts thousands of Islanders and visitors every year with new and stimulating live drama. Our children’s programs include: Summer Stars Camp, Winter Stars after school Program, The Fabulists, Holiday Season plays. These involve hundreds of children in hands-on theatrical experiences. Our poetry, movie, theater salon evenings and Fish Tales events share generous cultural experiences with everybody. Our Shakespeare in the amphitheater in the summer and all-year play offerings vitalize the atmosphere and inspire civic pride. Our Art

Space showcases new and established Island artists. Our highly innovative Virginia’s Drama Club offers theatrical engagement for those with challenging mental and physical conditions. Furthermore, we feature reduced-rate tickets for Island residents, and our Shakespeare for the Masses programs are free.

We are clearly an organization whose commitment is to the public.

Moreover, MV Playhouse, in close cooperation with the town, spearheaded the Vineyard Haven Harbor cultural district effort. At the gateway to the William Street historical district, we serve as a primary stop serving both districts. MV Playhouse attracts business to nearby restaurants, hotels and shops. As witness to this, the town posts signs up and down Main Street, making it plain that Vineyard Haven is registered as an official cultural district. Does the Assessor’s Office consider these town-funded signs to be for the attention of “just a limited group of people?”

Our ticket sales cover only a third of our costs, and we pinch every penny in our budget to make the most of our donors’ generosity. To divert a significant portion of our budget directly to the town is wrong-headed, counter-productive, and defiant of the obvious: we serve the general public richly, and we have a national reputation for doing so.

In short, on behalf of MV Playhouse and also on behalf of “the public at large,” I protest this misguided attempt to grab funds from an organization that serves Tisbury in a vigilant and historically documented effort. We sustain fine performing arts on Martha’s Vineyard for everyone, and we are proud of our efforts. The town of Tisbury has wisely and loyally supported us through the decades. Why this sudden and poorly considered gesture that is neither fair nor wise nor civic-minded?

I cordially invite the individuals in the assessor’s office and their families to visit MV Playhouse and join “the public at large” in enjoying our many enriching and transformative programs.

Dr. Gerald P. Yukevich

Vineyard Haven