With plans afoot to honor outgoing artistic director Dan Sullivan, and new artistic director Sharon Ott's first season announced (see story), what better time for Seattle Repertory Theatre to get a little extra money in its coffers? Happy to oblige is the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, which just granted the theatre company $100,000 to set up The William Randolph Hearst Endowment For Education Programs. Funding goes to the Rep's own Theatre Foundation and will then be disseminated to cover costs of artists-in-residency and student matinees, as well as the 20th anniversary of Seattle Rep's Mobile Outreach Bunch (MOB). That program brings tours of Rep shows to middle and high schools throughout Washington.

"The William Randolph Hearst Foundation has given us a great deal to celebrate," said Rep managing director Benjamin Moore, "to renew our strong commitment to education programs which serve our community and our state." Each year, the Hearst Foundation allots over $27 million to arts and other non-profit organizations.

--By David Lefkowitz