TCG Bulletin
June 2009, Volume 32, Issue 6
Also online this month:
FIELD LETTER
For this month’s Field Letter, Teresa asked TCG’s publisher, Terry Nemeth, to pen a few words on our book program. Under Terry’s leadership, TCG has become the largest independent trade publisher of dramatic literature in North America. Terry recounts the history and the mission of TCG Books, and also announces the program's next major initiative: "TCG will be publishing over 25 titles in e-book format this summer," he writes. "Our plan is to have 100 of our play titles available in this format within the first year. "
Monthly Mental Health Moment
On Sunday, June 7, many of us will be returning from the excitement of the TCG National Conference and the Tony Awards will be a welcome excuse to station ourselves on the couch for several hours to watch our for-profit brethren celebrate this year’s successes (congratulations to TCG member Signature Theatre in Virginia for receiving the Regional Theatre Tony Award). One of the year’s hottest tickets, and a nominee for Best Revival of a Musical, is Arthur Laurents’ West Side Story. If you’re reading the TCG Bulletin, you’re probably already familiar with Leonard Bernstein’s classic score and Stephen Sondheim’s stirring lyrics. However, in this viral parody—which you’re unlikely to see reprised on Sunday’s broadcast—Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and animator Walt Handelsman scraps Sondheim’s lyrics for more “timely” words of wisdom and lament. Herewith, we present to you: Worst Slide Story: A Musical Revue.
TCG NEWS
TCG Brain Bank Launches!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the pilot phase of the TCG Brain Bank! A peer-to-peer consulting network, the Brain Bank is currently open to executive leadership at TCG member theatres. Are you eager to share your knowledge and experience with your colleagues? Do you need a sounding board for your latest big idea? Visit the Brain Bank and sign up to be a Knowledge Donor or a Peer today!
Action: Visit the Brain Bank section of the website to learn more about this program and to register as a Knowledge Donor or a Peer. If you're attending the National Conference next week, stay tuned for information about TCG Brain Bank: Live at the Conference!
Back to Top2009-2010 TCG Theatre Membership Renewals
UPDATED
This story was originally published in the
April
2009 issue of the Bulletin.
The membership renewal deadline has been extended to June 30.
TCG theatre membership renewal materials were mailed out to all
member theatres in early April. We hope that you will once again
choose to join us as we tackle the issues affecting the theatre
field this year.
Action: The extended deadline is June 30. Contact Jen Cleary for more information or to obtain duplicate copies of renewal materials.
Back to TopDeadline for 2008 Education Survey Extended
UPDATED
This story
was originally published in the Feburary
2009 issue of the Bulletin.
The deadline for completing the 2008 Education Survey has been
extended to June 12. Last year, 123 theatres filled out the Education
Survey--so far this year 60 Surveys have been submitted. Every
member theatre is urged to fill out the survey!
Action: The extended deadline is June 12. Visit the Education section of the website to complete the survey. Contact Laurie Baskin or Alissa Moore with any questions.
Back to TopFox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowships
UPDATED
This story was originally published in the
March
2009 issue of the Bulletin.
Fox Fellowships are awarded in two categories: Extraordinary
Potential and Distinguished Achievement. The Fellowships
are intended to further an actor's artistic and professional development.
Action: The application deadline is June 15. Visit the Grants section of the website for more information.
Back to TopDeadline for Participating in Free Night 2009 Fast Approaching!
UPDATED
This story
was originally published in the Feburary
2009 issue of the Bulletin.
The deadline for new organizations (or
theatres) to contact TCG about participating in the Free Night
2009 program is May 30. If someone told you there was a program
that could help you attract brand new audiences to your theatre,
and that 40 percent of that audience would return and purchase
tickets, wouldn't you be interested? That program is Free
Night of Theater, TCG’s hugely successful national
audience development initiative.
Action: The deadline is May 30. Visit the Free Night section of the website to learn more about the 2009 program, including details on how to participate.
Back to TopFree Night of Theater 2008 Research Released
The annual research on the Free Night of Theater program
has been completed. Shugoll Research reports that Free Night
2008 was again successful in building new audiences, with
33 percent of Free Night patrons returning to the theatre
they attended in October 2008 to purchase tickets. The program
also continues to attract a significant number of people who fall
into non-traditional theatre participant categories, including
young people, less educated, non-white and those with lower household
incomes.
Action: Visit the Free Night section of the website for details on the Free Night of Theater 2008 program research.
ADVOCACY NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN ARTS ALLIANCE AND TCG
President Obama Releases 2010 Budget Request to Congress
President Obama’s FY10 budget request includes $161.3 million for the NEA, an increase of $6.3 million, or 4 percent over the NEA’s FY09 budget. The President’s budget also includes $38.1 million for Arts in Education programs at the U.S. Department of Education. This appropriation represents level funding. The budget will now work its way through the normal Congressional appropriations process.
Action: Stay tuned for Action Alerts in the coming months, and participate in advocacy efforts to further increase these appropriations levels.
Back to TopFCC White Space Update
UPDATED
Follow this ongoing story in its entirety
at the Advocacy
section of the website.
As previously reported, TCG is working in coalition with the Broadway
League on this issue. The Broadway League has formed a coalition
called the Coalition of Wireless Microphone Users (CWMU). The FCC
has an internal appeals process called the Petition for Reconsideration
Process. The CWMU has filed two sets of comments as part of this
process, which urge the FCC to allow performing arts organizations
eligibility to apply for a license for their wireless microphones
and also urge the FCC to make sure that technical protections, including
spectrum sensing and a geo-location database, actually work to protect
wireless microphones.
Action: Visit the Advocacy section of website to see these CWMU FCC fillings.
Back to TopRocco Landesman to Become Chairman of the NEA
On May 13, President Obama announced his intent to nominate theatrical producer Rocco Landesman to be Chairman of the NEA. Landesman is president and owner of Jujamcyn Theaters, a company that owns and operates Broadway theatres and produces Broadway shows. Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, Landesman got his undergraduate education at Colby College and the University of Wisconsin, and earned a doctorate in Dramatic Literature at the Yale School of Drama. Following the completion of his coursework, he stayed on at Yale for four years as an assistant professor. He has been active on numerous boards, including the Municipal Arts Society, the Times Square Alliance and the Educational Foundation of America. Landesman has also participated in the debate about arts policy, speaking at forums and writing numerous articles focusing on the relationship between the commercial and not-for-profit sectors of the American theatre.
Action: Stay tuned for an announcement of the Senate Confirmation of this appointment.
ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES
Fulton Theatre Announces Discovery Project New Play Contest
The Discovery Project is a biennial contest to find and produce new full-length plays. The winning entry will receive a workshop performance during the theatre’s 2009-10 season followed by a full Equity production on the Fulton’s main stage during its 2010-11 season. Two runner-ups will receive readings during the 2010-11 season.
Action: The deadline is June
15. Visit the Fulton
Theatre website for application guidelines and materials.
Riverside Theatre Announces Walking the Wire: Monologues at Riverside
Riverside Theatre invites established and emerging playwrights
to submit monologues of ten minutes or less that focus on the theme
of “holiday tales.” The monologues will be performed
November 19-22 at Riverside Theatre in Iowa City, IA.
Action: The deadline is July
15. Visit the Riverside
Theatre website for application guideline and materials.
CONFERENCES & SEMINARS
ArtsReach National Arts Marketing and Development Conference October 8–11 in Los Angeles, CA–TCG Member Discount!
TCG members are entitled to $120 registration discounts to the 2009 Arts Reach National Arts Marketing & Development Conference, “Are You Ready for the Wave of Change? Breakthrough Strategies for Growing Audiences, Donors, and Boards in the Coming Decade.”
Action: Visit the ArtsReach website to view all of the conference offerings and to register online. In addition to your member discount, when one person from your organization registers by July 31, another person gets to go for free to the Regular Conference and the Pre-Conference E-marketing Day.
Back to Top2009 National Arts Marketing Project Conference October 30–November 2 in Providence, RI–TCG Member Discount!
TCG members are entitled to registration discounts to the 2009 National Arts Marketing Project Conference, in Providence, RI, "CollaborAction: Arts Marketing, Sponsorship, and Fundraising Strategies to Succeed!" Other ways to save on the conference include Early Bird registration by July 15; discounts on multiple registrations and applying for scholarships or volunteer positions.
Action: The early-bird deadline is July 15. Visit the NAMP website to view all of the conference offerings or to register online. Take advantage of your TCG discounted registration fee by entering the code CLBRACTN upon registering.
2009 LMDA Conference July 16–19 in Washington, DC
The Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas 2009 Conference, "Out of Bounds," will feature a wide range of events, including sessions on dramaturging politics and a special session featuring perspectives from African American dramaturgs.
Action: Visit the LMDAwebsite to download the conference brochure and register for the conference.
DEVELOPMENT
Jazz for Peace Fundraising Grant
Grants of up to $50,000 each will support organizations that benefit the world in some way and are lacking financial support. Grants will provide both cash and staff members to help selected applicants stage fundraisers.
Action: The deadline is on the 20th of each month. Visit the Jazz for Peace website for application guidelines and materials.
Back to TopNEA Announces Second Round of Funding Grants for Fiscal Year 2009
The NEA announced its second round of funding in the categories of Access to Artistic Excellence, Learning in the Arts, Arts on Radio and Television and American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius and Partnership Agreements (State and Regional). In this round of funding, the NEA will distribute $83,472,100 to support 1,075 projects by not-for-profit national, regional, state and local organizations nationwide.
Access to Artistic Excellence grants support the creation and presentation of work in the disciplines of dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literature, media arts, museums, music, musical theatre, opera, presenting, theatre and visual arts.
TCG Members Recipient of Access to Artistic Excellence Grants:
• Amas Musical Theatre: $30,000
• Asolo Repertory Theatre: $10,000
• Roadside Theater: $15,000
• Arizona Theatre Company: $20,000
• Native Voices at the Autry: $20,000
• Berkeley Repertory Theatre: $12,000
• Book-It Repertory Theatre: $20,000
• Center for Puppetry Arts : $20,000
• Center Theatre Group of Los Angeles: $40,000
• Chicago Shakespeare Theater: $35,000
• Collaboraction Theatre Company: $10,000
• Cornerstone Theater Company: $30,000
• GALA Hispanic Theatre: $15,000
• Haleakala: $10,000
• Honolulu Theatre for Youth: $25,000
• Idaho Shakespeare Festival: $25,000
• Indiana Repertory Theatre: $25,000
• New Repertory Theatre: $15,000
• The Public Theater: $50,000
• The Old Globe Theatre: $15,000
• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: $45,000
• Pan Asian Repertory Theatre: $25,000
• Paper Mill Playhouse: $15,000
• Penumbra Theatre Company.: $25,000
• Red Bull Theater.: $20,000
• Redmoon Theater: $30,000
• Riverside Theatre: $10,000
• Rude Mechanicals: $20,000
• Repertorio Español: $40,000
• SteppingStone Theatre: $10,000
• Teatro Vision: $10,000
• Ten Thousand Things: $15,000
• Theatre Communications Group: $135,000
• Theatre Communications Group: $40,000
• Tricklock Company: $15,000
• True Colors Theatre Company: $15,000
• Playmakers Repertory Company: $30,000
• Weston Playhouse Theatre: $15,000
• Wooster Group: $25,000
• Working Theatre Company: $10,000
• Young Playwright’s Theatre: $25,000
Total: $1,017,000
Learning in the Arts grants support projects that provide in-depth knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts to children and youth in schools and communities.
TCG Members Recipient of Learning in the Arts Grants:
• The 52nd Street Project: $68,000
• The Children's Theatre Company: $20,000
• Epic Theatre Center: $40,000
• Fulton Theatre: $40,000
• New Victory Theater New: $15,000
• Northern Stage Company: $33,000
• Seattle Repertory Theatre: $45,000
• Shakespeare & Company: $40,000
• Working Classroom: $40,000
• Young Playwrights' Theater: $32,000
• Youth Ensemble of Atlanta: $40,000
Total: $345,000
American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius is designed to acquaint Americans with the best of the nation's cultural and artistic heritage.
TCG Members Recipient of American Masterpieces Grants:
• Pregones Theater: $50,000
Total: $50,000
Action: None.
Back to TopNEA Announces 2009-2010 Shakespeare for a New Generation Grants
The NEA announced that 37 not-for-profit, professional theatre companies will receive grants of $25,000 each to participate in Shakespeare for a New Generation from June 1, 2009-May 31, 2010. Part of the NEA's Shakespeare in American Communities initiative, Shakespeare for a New Generation introduces middle and high school students to the power of live theatre and the masterpieces of Shakespeare. Managed by Arts Midwest, the program already has benefited more than one million students and their teachers with live performances and educational activities. The program also has provided employment to more than 1,200 theatre artists, including actors, directors, stage managers and scenic designers. Six of the participating companies will receive additional grants of $10,000-$20,000 as part of a partnership with the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. These grants will support performances and educational activities targeted to youth involved with the juvenile justice system.
TCG Members Recipient of Shakespeare for a New Generation Grants:
•The Acting Company: $25,000
• Actors' Shakespeare Project: $25,000
• African-American Shakespeare: $25,000
• Alabama Shakespeare Festival: $25,000
• American Players Theatre: $25,000
• American Shakespeare Center: $25,000
• California Shakespeare Theater: $25,000
• The Children's Theatre Company: $25,000
• Cincinnati Shakespeare Company: $25,000
• Classic Stage Company: $25,000
• The Denver Center for the Performing Arts: $25,000
• East LA Classic Theatre: $25,000
• Georgia Shakespeare Festival: $25,000
• Honolulu Theatre for Youth: $25,000
• Idaho Shakespeare Festival: $25,000
• Indiana Repertory Theatre: $25,000
• Kentucky Shakespeare Festival: $25,000
• Lantern Theater Company: $25,000
• Main Street Theater: $25,000
• Milwaukee Shakespeare: $25,000
• A Noise Within: $25,000
• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: $25,000
• Orlando Shakespeare Festival: $25,000
• The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University:
$25,000
• PlayMakers Repertory Company: $25,000
• Portland Stage Company: $25,000
• Seattle Shakespeare Company: $25,000
• Shakespeare & Company: $25,000
• The Shakespeare Festival at Tulane: $25,000
• Shakespeare Santa Cruz: $25,000
• Shakespeare Theatre Company: $25,000
• The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey: $25,000
• Utah Shakespearean Festival: $25,000
• Weston Playhouse Theatre Company: $25,000
• Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum: $25,000
Total: $875,000
Action: None.
Back to TopPeople's Light & Theatre Company Receives $120,000
People’s Light & Theatre Company in Malvern, PA received $120,000 from Pew Charitable Trusts to hire consultants for two year to boost its audiences and improve its marketing efforts.
Action: None
Back to TopSteppenwolf Theatre Company Receives $100,000
Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, IL received a grant of $100,000 from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation for education and community-outreach programs for young people.
Action: None
Back to TopMichelle Obama Announces Social Innovation Fund
First Lady Michelle Obama announced that the Obama administration plans to create a $50 million “social innovation fund” to help finance and expand promising not-for-profit agencies. The administration will encourage foundations, philanthropists and corporations to help raise additional money for the program.
Action: Visit the White House website to read the full press release
MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH
NTEN, Common Knowledge and the Port Release Nonprofit Social Network Survey Report
This report is the result of a survey of 980 not-for-profit professionals on their organization’s use of online social networking.
Action: Visit the Nonprofit Social Network Survey website to read the full report.
Back to TopThe Bridgespan Group Releases Finding Leaders for America's Nonprofits
This report presents and analyzes the results of a study that sought to determine the nature and dimensions of the evolving not-for-profit leadership deficit and to look at the extent to which leadership development can fill the gap as well as the potential for “bridging” talent from for-profits to not-for-profit leadership roles.
Action: Visit the Bridgespan Group website to download the full report.
Back to TopHewlett Foundation Release Involving Youth in the Arts Project Phase II-Focus Groups on Next Generation Leadership
For this follow-up report, 50 emerging, mid-career and established administrators from a wide range of arts organizations were gathered to put forward their ideas about how arts organizations can successfully engage talented and motivated young people.
Action: Visit the Hewlett Foundation website to download the full report.
Back to TopNPAC and the Mike Curb Foundation Release 2008 NPAC: Assessing the Field's Capacity for Collective Action
This report presents findings from research conducted around the 2008 National Performing Arts Convention—a gathering of a diverse group of over 3,700 professionals for the purpose of identifying a collective action agenda for the performing arts field.
Action: Visit the Curb Center website to download the full report.
RESOURCES
IRS Offers Form 990 Filing Tips
The IRS has released the second in a series of filing tips to help not-for-profit organizations prepare their Form 990 informational tax returns.
Action: Visit the IRS website to read the series of tips.
Back to TopGrantmakers in the Arts Launches Economic Turmoil and Change Blog
Economic Turmoil and Change will collect and synthesize ideas, actions and responses surrounding questions of how arts grantmakers and their arts partners and grantees will manage the impact of the recession.
Action: Visit the Economic Turmoil and Change blog for news, grant opportunities and more.
Back to TopAnimoto Offering Free Pro Accounts to Not-for-Profits and Causes
Animoto is a web-based software service that creates dynamic video presentations out of photographs and music. The pro package includes, among many other features, unlimited full-length video creations and free access to Animoto’s commercial music library of 300+ songs licensed for promotional purposes.
Action: Visit the Animoto website to apply for a free pro account.
Back to TopCultural Data Project Launches New Web Resources
The Cultural Data Project has launched a website aimed at grantmakers, researchers, advocates and arts and cultural organizations that will provide general information, research and news related to the CDP.
Action: Visit the Cultural
Data Project website to view data, analysis and reporting on
the cultural sector.
The Multicultural World of Social Media Marketing
This article reports that Facebook usage is rapidly growing in Spanish speaking communities and countries and that ethnic minorities as a whole visit social networking sites more than non-Hispanic whites.
Action:Visit the Hispanic Online Marketing website to read the full article and get tips on marketing to Spanish speaking communities.
NEW TCG MEMBERS
The Barrow Group
312 W 36th St, #4W
New York, NY 10018
tel (212) 760-2615
fax (212) 760-2962
tbg@barrowgroup.org
www.barrowgroup.org
Seth Barrish & Lee Brock, Co-Artistic Directors
Kerry Watterson, General Manager
Terrence Gray, Board President
Baylor University
Dept of Theatre Arts
1 Bear Pl, #97262
Waco, TX 76798
Tel (254) 710-1861
Fax (254) 710-1765
sue_koehler@baylor.edu
www.baylor.edu/theatre
Sue Koehler, Office Manager
Black Spectrum Theatre Co
Roy Wilkins Park
119-07 Merrick Blvd
Jamaica, NY 11434-2004
tel (718) 723-1800
fax (718) 723-1806
info@blackspectrum.com
www.blackspectrum.com
Carl Clay, Executive Producer
Juliet Sandford, Managing Director
Bob Law, Board Chair
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Co
30 W Dale St
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3210
tel (719) 477-4340
fax (719) 634-0570
info@osfineartscenter.org
www.csfineartscenter.org
Alan Osburn, Producing Artistic Director
Nathan Willers, Assistant Director of Performing Arts
Chris Jenkins, Board Chair
Freehold Theatre Lab
2222 2nd Ave
Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98121
tel (206) 323-7499
fax (206) 323-7500
info@freeholdtheatre.org
www.freeholdtheatre.org/lab
Robin Lynn Smith, Artistic Director
Zoe Fitzgerald, Managing Director
Liza Comtois, Board President
The House Theatre of Chicago
4611 N Ravenswood
Ste 201
Chicago, IL 60640
tel (773) 769-3832
fax (773) 769-1146
info@thehousetheatre.com
www.thehousetheatre.com
Nathan Allen, Artistic Director
Ryan Butts, Managing Director
Georgia L. Bozeday, Board President
Moving Arts
PO Box 481145
Los Angeles, CA 90048
tel (323) 666-3259
info@movingarts.org
www.movingarts.org
Steve Lozier, Managing Director
Dan Beck, Board Chair
NightBlue Theater
11976 Holly Ct
Lemont, IL 60439
tel (630) 410-8790
irene@nightbluetheater.com
www.nightbluetheater.com
David Walters, Artistic Director
Irene Patino, Administrator
Paul Talaga, Board President
Pistarckle Theater
4126 Anna’s Retreat
Tillett Garden
St Thomas, VI 00802
tel (340) 775-7877
fax (340) 776-6119
web@pistarckletheater.vi
www.pistarckletheater.vi
Nicola Barthen Emerich, Artistic Producer
Francis Bartolucci, Resident Director
Merry Phillips, Board Chair
The Pricing Institute
55 Sylvan Lane
Weston, MA 02493
Tel (781) 330-9967
Fax (781) 237-2663
steven@thepricinginstitute.com
www.thepricinginstitute.com
Steven Roth, President
University of San Francisco
Performing Arts Dept
2130 Fulton St
San Francisco, CA 94117
Tel (415) 422-5979
Fax (415) 422-2815
egmaloney@usfca.edu
www.usfca.edu
Ellen Maloney, Program Assistant
WET Productions
441 Lexington Ave, PH
New York, NY 10017
tel (212) 682-0265
info@wetproductions.org
www.wetproductions.org
Sasha Eden, Creative Director
Victoria Pettibone, Director of Operations
Michael Morley, Board Chair
TCG DEADLINES
| May 30: | Extended deadline to contact TCG about participating in the Free Night 2009 program |
| June 1: | (noon EST) ArtSEARCH deadline for June 15 issue |
| June 12: | Extended deadline to complete 2008 Education Survey |
| June 15: | Application deadline for Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowships |
| June 30: | (noon EST) ArtSEARCH deadline for July 1 issue |
| Deadline for TCG Theatre Membership renewals | |
| July 1: | (noon EST) ArtSEARCH deadline for July 15 issue |
| July 9: | Reservations deadline for September issue of American Theatre |
| July 19: | Reservations deadline for September issue of American Theatre |
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All rights reserved.
Information appearing in the TCG Bulletin may not be reprinted
without permission.