Cynthia Robbins, flanked by Rick Lee and Councilmember Jim Graham.

Representatives from the Lincoln Theatre’s board of directors, standing alongside local promoters and Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham, made their case in front of the historic theater this afternoon: without a $500,000 boost in operational funds from the city at the beginning of the 2012 fiscal year, they would likely be forced to close at the end of the year.

“This is a gem,” said Cynthia Robbins, the board’s secretary. “It is essential that the Lincoln remain open and operational…in the absence of contributions, we will not be able to continue operations.”

According to the board, the theater is struggling massively to even keep up with operational basics — the theater has $50,000 cash on hand, and it costs approximately $60,000 to run the facility each month. Six full-time employees currently work at the theater, including executive director Eilene Lifsey, who said during the press conference that she earns a yearly salary of $80,000. Rick Lee, who owns Lee’s Flower & Card Shop on U Street, admitted that the current public-private relationship between the Lincoln and the District’s government was “a dysfunctional partnership that needs to be fixed.” At the same time, the board were critical of the city’s investments into Ford’s Theater and Arena Stage, although those were capital investments, not operational.

“This is an old building, and maintenance is expensive,” said Robbins, who added that most of the money would go towards “just keeping the doors open.”

Mayor Vince Gray, who called the theater’s business model “not sustainable” yesterday, was often a source of ire during the press conference, as board members complained that they have not been able to convince Gray to meet with them — or even field their phone calls — regarding the funding issue.

“We have requested a meeting with the Mayor, but have not gotten a response,” said Lee. “Shame on the District for knocking the theater instead of helping it.” Lee then proceeded to say that he was “ashamed” he supported Gray with signs at his shop last fall. Graham said that he remained hopeful the Mayor would meet with the board regarding funding at some point.

The board refused to specify an estimated closing date, and made no indication that currently scheduled shows through November were in danger of being cancelled. The Lincoln, which opened in 1922, would celebrate its ninetieth anniversary next year.