By Howard Pousner
hpousner@ajc.com

The “Save Georgia Shakespeare” campaign launched in late September is getting closer to its $500,000 goal, with 1,200 donors contributing more than $405,000, and the long-time troupe is planning a performance fund-raiser to goose it along.

“Cocoa & Carols,” 7 p.m. Dec. 16-17 at Oglethorpe University’s Conant Performing Arts Center, will be a family-friendly holiday cabaret featuring associate artists Joe Knezevich, Courtney Patterson, Brad Sherrill, Carolyn Cook and others ($35, $15 under 12. 404-504-1473, www.gashakespeare.org/save_gs_events).

Meanwhile, in addition to welcomiing Lauren Morris from California’s Long Beach Playhouse as its managing director (a job unfilled for more than three years), Georgia Shakespeare also has announced the election of three new trustees:

• Pam Driesell, senior pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church

• Wendell Franklin, associate attorney with Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial

• Kyle Tibbs Jones, principal, And She Told Two Friends Communications

“We have been working through a critical time in the history of Georgia Shakespeare,” outgoing board chairwoman Lauren Kiefer said in a statement.  “But we are moving a rapid pace, and we are excited about the incoming leadership, on both the board and the business levels of the organization.”

Meanwhile, the “Save Georgia Shakespeare” campaign continues through Dec. 31.

“We have truly been inspired by how strongly, passionately and quickly so many people have responded in support of Georgia Shakespeare,” said Ashley Preisinger, incoming board co-chair along with Paul Pendergrass.  “But it is essential that we continue to move with urgency to achieve our goal by year-end.”

To donate: 404-504-3405, www.gashakespeare.org/save_georgia_shakespeare.