what is theater
DESCRIPTION
Trying to describe theatre to MBA studentsTRANSCRIPT
What is Theater?Devon Smith, Meghan Pressman & Michael Barker
Managers in the Theatre (or what the heck is a theatre manager?)
Stage Manager
Box Office/House Manager
Technical/Production Manager
Marketing Manager/Director
Development Manager/Director
Business Manager
Theater ManagersGeneral Manager
Executive/Managing Director
Producing Director
Believe it or not, but
all of these jobs
are different.
Here’s where we talk about ourselves a little
General ManagersDay to day operations (budgets, contracts, HR, etc)
Internal management
Managing DirectorsBusiness leader of the organization (CEO!)
Internal and external management
Interaction with boards and donors
Producing DirectorsOften work without an artistic leader
Art and business decisions
All Broadway theatres are on Broadway…right?
40 theatres, each with 500-2,000 seats, located between 40th & 54th Streets and 6th & 9th Avenues
Broadway Economics
1984
-85
1986
-87
1988
-89
1990
-91
1992
-93
1994
-95
1996
-97
1998
-99
2000
-01
2002
-03
2004
-05
2006
-07
2008
-09
6789
10111213
Broadway Tickets Sold
Season
Tic
kets
(m
illions)
1984
-85
1986
-87
1988
-89
1990
-91
1992
-93
1994
-95
1996
-97
1998
-99
2000
-01
2002
-03
2004
-05
2006
-07
2008
-09
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
Adjusted Gross
Millions
Other; 5%Nonprofit Theatres;
15%
Jujamcyn Theaters; 13%
Nederlander Organization; 23%
Shubert Organiza-tion; 45%
Broadway Theatre Owners
Other 6%
Comedy 14%
Drama 17%Musical 64%
Production Genre (Sept '09)
Theatre empty 10%
Theatre booked for rehearsals 45%Production run 0-1 Year 20%
Production run 1-5 Years 13%
Production run 5+ Years 13%
Length of Run
Fun with Charts and Graphs
How a Broadway Play is madeCase: In the Heights
An independent producer (Kevin McCollum) finds a: property to develop play to produce (In the Heights) production to transfer Producer ensures that production is ready for Broadway2000: In the Heights is written2004: Jill Furman sees a reading ITH in the
basement of the Drama Bookshop, brings it to the attention of Kevin McCollum & Jeffrey Sellers at The Producing Office
2005: ITH is workshopped at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre2007: ITH begins off-Broadway run at 37 Arts Theatre2008: ITH opens on Broadway
Producer finds investors ($2-$20M)•Sander Jacobs (businessman)•Robyn Goodman/Walt Grossman (theatre producer)•Peter Fine (real estate developer)•Sonny Everett & Mike Skipper (insurance salesman)•Ruth Hendel (wife of investment banker)•Harold Newman (oilman, grew up in Wa Heights) Producer hires: •General Manager to run the business •Casting Agent to find actors, musicians•Director, Choreographer, Conductor•Designers (scenic, costume, sound, lights, video, props)•Press Agent to manage publicity •Advertising Agent to manage marketing and advertising
Where the $$ Comes From
Producer contacts theatre owner (Nederlander) to arrange a long-term lease. Theatre owner takes a flat fee per week or a percentage of the gross. May opt to invest as a co-producer.
Theatre owner hires:
• Stage hands (to build set, hang lights & sound & video, run show backstage)
• House Manager and ushers
HAPPY OPENING!
• Run is open ended (94 weeks so far)
• Cast recording is produced and released (debuts #1, wins a Grammy)
• Nominated for 13 Tony awards• Universal Pictures acquires
motion picture rights• Original cast begins to leave
production• National tour announced for
12 US cities Quick Math• $10 M capitalization• $500K weekly running costs• 94 weeks running• $70 M total grosses• Operating Profit = $13M and
counting
Issues in the field•Unions (STRIKE!)
•Rising production costs (aka: how the film industry mentality is killing Broadway)
•Premium ticket prices ($300!)
•Lack of investment capital (economic recession what?)
•Non profits on Broadway (no fair!)
•Film stars on stage (or how to get street cred)
The future of Broadway1. Increased consolidation2. Fewer original properties3. Decline of unions
Random Facts• Longest running
show: The Phantom of the Opera premiered January 3, 1988. It has grossed $750 million and sold 13.5 M tickets.
• Highest returns: Producers of Wicked invested $14 million in 2003, the production has grossed $1.5 billion worldwide.
• Most $$ production: Spider-Man, Turn off the Dark $52 million
Those lovable unions!
Definition of Regional Theatre• Almost 500 members of Theatre Communications Group (TCG)• 76 members of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT)• At least a few hundred others• Generally not New York City (although there are exceptions)
Some Context
Little Theatre Movement – 1920s & 30sFord Foundation as Johnny Appleseed
Regional Theatre was about what it’s not• Not New York• Not Commercial• Not Presenting
Regional Theatre has come to mean• Based in the community• Nonprofit• (Mostly) Producing• Mission-based• Broadway feeder team?• A LOT OF THINGS
Regional Theatre economicsnonprofit theatre is big business! (well, business anyway)
Case Study: Goodman TheatreChicago, IL
The Skinny
Founded in 1925 as a division of the Art Institute of Chicago
Moved to the Loop location in 2000
Stable executive leadership in Roche Shulfer and Bob Falls
Artistic Collective comprised of 6 directors
Expenses of $19mm; Assets of $80mm
Albert theater (856 seats); Owen theater (374-468 seats)
Eleven productions per year
By the numbersThe mix... The magic...
2006 2007 2008$0
$2,000,000
$4,000,000
$6,000,000
$8,000,000
$10,000,000
$12,000,000
$14,000,000
$16,000,000
$18,000,000
$20,000,000
Revenue Com-ponents
OtherContributionsTicket Sales
2006 2007 2008
$(3,000,000)
$(2,500,000)
$(2,000,000)
$(1,500,000)
$(1,000,000)
$(500,000)
$-
Net Loss
MissionGoodman Theatre, Chicago’s oldest and largest not-for-profit theater, has won international renown for the quality of productions, the depth and diversity of artistic leadership, and the excellence of its many community and educational programs. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the Goodman is committed to producing both classic and contemporary works, giving full voice to a wide range of artists and visions. Central to that mission is the Goodman Artistic Collective, a diverse group of outstanding theater artists whose distinctive visions have given the Goodman an artistic identity of uncommon richness and variety. By dedicating itself to three guiding principles—quality, diversity, and community—Goodman Theatre seeks to be the premier cultural organization in Chicago, providing productions and programs that make an essential contribution to the quality of life in our city.
The ArtAlbert Theatre Owen Theatre
Turn of the Centurymusical
A Christmas Carolholiday
Desire Under the ElmsAmerican classic
Magnolianew play
Rock and RollWest End revival
Boleros for the Disenchanted
regional theatre revival
New Stage Seriesnew plays
Ruinedregional theatre revival
A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century
festivalGhostwritten
new playThe Crowd You're in With
new play
The future of regional theatre
Decline of Unions
Dwindling (?) subscriber base
Aging (?) audiences
Consolidation & Expansion
Boise ain’t Chicago!
Commercial cooperation (enhancement)
Performing Arts Presenters
• Primarily present other people’s work such as:• Broadway tours (musicals and plays)• Dance• Family shows• Cabaret and one man shows• Music
• Association of Performing Art Presenters• 1900+ members, 60% of members are
presenters• Performing Art Centers• Community Theatres• Regional Theatres• Universities
Orange County Performing Arts Center
Orange County, CA
Case Study:
Organizational Structure
Orange County Performing Arts Center
1 concert hall (seats 1,704), includes pipe organ
1 theater (flexible seating from 300-600)
1 opera style house with 3 tiers (seats 2,994)
1 performance hall (seats 230-270)
1 outdoor plaza (seats 500-2000)
Also a café and an education center
Resident companies:Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Pacific Chorale
The NumbersOrange County Performing Arts Center
Fixed assets worth 340 million
Investments of 183 million (incl 35mm endowment)(FY 2009 showed a overall 5.6mm loss in investments)
The Season
OCPAC 2009-2010 Season
113 different events spanning 365 performances days
Where the work comes from
1. Scouted by the presenting organization at another venue, a conference, grapevine
2. Submitted by creator of the piece
3. Packaged by an outside party
4. Created by an “in house” partner organization
5. Created by the presenting organization
Back to Bway: Touring Economics
2008-2009 Season
Approximately 100 shows in over 250 cities
$883 million
14+ million tickets
Cumulative economic impact spending:$3.25 billion on metropolitan areas across the United States during the 2004–2005 season(an average of 3x the gross ticket sales)
Who attends?
2008-2009 Season
Women represent 70% of audience and 73% of buyers
Average theatergoer attends 6 shows per year
Average theatergoer age was 50 years old
Vast majority of theatergoers were Caucasian
73% held a college degree and
41% held a graduate degree
43% of national theatergoers reported an annual household income of more than $112,300
Future Present(ers)
Audience DemographicsAging Audience
“My audiences have gone up significantly, my income has gone down.”
Decline of Effectiveness of Traditional MediaThe negative effects of “mission light” presenting houses
Substitutes
Increased Presenting Costs = Higher Prices and Higher Risk
Significant Decline Among Traditional Presentation Genres Like Classical Music
Increased Competition to Buy as Well as to Sell
But wait, there’s more!
small theatres
community theatre
culturally specific
multi-disciplinary
international
Questions?