Theatre Facts

Each year, TCG conducts a comprehensive fiscal survey, which is the basis for Theatre Facts, TCG’s annual in-depth theatre field report. Available to all member theatres, as well as the general public, Theatre Facts is the only document analyzing the professional not-for-profit American theatre and is a vital advocacy and policy tool for trustees, foundation and corporate executives, policy makers and the national press.

Theatre Facts 2011

Theatre Facts 2011 provides three lenses through which to view the not-for-profit theatre field’s attendance, performance and fiscal health. Based on TCG Fiscal Survey 2011—which covers the fiscal year that theatres completed anytime between October 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011—the report shows that 2011 brought a second year of reprieve after two years of difficult times during the height of the recent economic crisis. The majority of theatres ended 2011 with a positive Change in Unrestricted Net Assets (CUNA), with total income growth of 3.4% above inflation over the five-year trend period and expense growth of 1.8%. Subscriptions held relatively steady from 2010 to 2011, while single ticket income and overall attendance both increased over the same period.  Payroll rose 6.4% from 2010 to 2011 and theatres added 10% more employees. Average working capital remained negative in 2011, but saw an improvement from the five-year low in 2010. Capital campaigns left theatres with substantial growth in investments and new, improved or expanded facilities.

Download Theatre Facts 2011 (PDF). Please note that this is a large file, best opened with Adobe Reader versions 4.0 and higher.

Download the Theatre Facts 2011 Press Release (PDF).

 

Eleven past reports are available online (PDFs):

For inquiries about previous editions of Theatre Facts, please email Ilana Rose, associate director of research & collective action.

Narrative Versions

A narrative version of Theatre Facts is published annually in American Theatre magazine. This article provides case studies and anecdotes from prominent managing leaders in the field.

"Theatre Facts 2011: Get Smart, Hold Tight." (pdf)

Sarah Hart's story on Theatre Facts 2011—TCG's annual analysis of the fiscal state of the American not-for-profit theatre—shows how theatres are deftly negotiating the bumps and curves of an economy in flux. This article was featured in the November 2012 issue of American Theatre.

"Theatre Facts 2010: Contending with the New Normal." (pdf)

Ingenuity and Flexibility are Theatres' Aces in the Hole for Maneuvering a Distressed Economy.  Sarah Hart's story on Theatre Facts 2010—TCG's annual analysis of the fiscal state of the American not-for-profit theatre—shows how the theare field is adjusting to life in a new landscape, one that increasingly demands austerity, but one that also engenders imagination and ingenuity.  This article was featured in the November 2011 issue of American Theatre.

"Theatre Facts 2009: Lean and Mean, But True to Vision." (pdf)

U.S. Theatres Stave Off Crises With Clever Strategies and Strong Programming.  Featured in the November 2010 issue of American Theatre, Sarah Hart's story on Theatre Facts 2009—TCG's annual analysis of the fiscal state of the American not-for-profit theatre—shows how many theatres turned the enormous challenges of the economic recession into an opportunity to refocus and find clarity in mission statements, branding, financial practices and staffing structures.

"Theatre Facts 2008: Agility Under Pressure." (pdf)

It's impossible not to look for harbingers of economic crises to come in the Theatre Facts 2008, TCG's annual analysis of the fiscal state of the American not-for-profit theatre. This full article (pdf) was featured in the November 2009 issue of American Theatre.  

"Theatre Facts 2007: The Readiness is All."

Anticipating Hard Times, The Field is Buttressed by Strong Numbers. Celia Wren examines the upbeat news in Theatre Facts 2007 in relation to the gloomy economic developments of recent months. The full article is featured in the November 2008 issue of American Theatre.  

"Watching the Fiscal Weather: A Digest of Theatre Facts 2006."

Celia Wren's report from the field shows that "the forecast is neither foul nor fair—and theatres are planning accordingly." Drawing on the findings of Theatre Facts 2006, the full article is featured in the November 2007 issue of American Theatre.  

"At the Intersection of Optimism and Uncertainty: A Digest of Theatre Facts 2005."

Is the glass half full or half empty? Featured in the November 2006 issue of American Theatre and based on the findings of Theatre Facts 2005, Celia Wren's article explores both the continued recovery of the nation's not-for-profit theatres and the worrisome omens that recovery harbors.

"Through the Looking-Glass: A Digest of Theatre Facts 2004."

As-yet-untried strategies may be the key to maintaining artistic gains—even in the face of cutbacks and audience uncertainty. Ben Pesner's article, based on the findings of Theatre Facts 2004, is featured in the November 2005 issue of the re-designed American Theatre.

"Singing in the Rain: A Digest of 'Theatre Facts 2003."

It certainly wasn't the best of times; but then, it wasn't the worst of times either. That's the impression one might get when sifting through tables and charts in Theatre Facts 2003, the latest installment in TCG's annual survey of the financial health of the national not-for-profit theatre field. Published in the November 2004 issue.

"Eyeing the Horizon: A Digest of Theatre Facts 2002"

While Theatre Facts 2002 covers the effects of the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and the economic recession, there was some good news. According to the article, "The data about the 1,146 Universe Theatres is particularly impressive: Collectively, these theatres sold an estimated 32.2 million tickets to 157,000 performances of 10,000 productions. Theatre Facts estimates that these institutions, which employ 109,000 individuals, generated $1.4 billion in direct expenditure to the U.S. economy in 2002. No small potatoes." By Ben Pesner. Originally published in the November 2003 issue.

"Theatre Facts 2001: Shifting Currents"

TCG's Theatre Facts 2001 tracks the field's course through a troubled year of economic downturns. Survey is pre-9/11. By Stephen Nunns. Originally published in the September 2002 issue.

"Theatre Facts 2000: Millennium Approaches"

TCG's Theatre Facts 2000 looks at the field in the final year of the 20th century. By Linda Geeson. Originally published in the September 2001 issue.