Actors and Community Theaters
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Topic: Actors and Community Theaters
Posted By: PatrickArmagh
Subject: Actors and Community Theaters
Date Posted: 10/13/05 at 12:52am
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To elaborate on the Question: There is a community with a large number of actors(500+), and a large number of venues(40+), and a large number of production companies (25+). Majority of the Production Companies lack 501(c)3 status. They operate under the blanket of larger arts organizations, and city/county programs. Majority of the Groups have small boards that are made up of a small cliq of Directors and older actors who continue to select some of the same plays year after year. A large number of actors (100+), and 1/2 of the companies have been brought into discussions about forming an alliance of actors that would create it's own 501(c)3 organization that could then provide the blanket for each of the theaters, and grants/funding for the theater groups based on a series of specific criteria that would set a unified procedural code for all of the theaters. In essence, it would be the creation of a kind of actors union that would dictate policy to the theaters. Funding has been acquired, and all documentation has been created, reviewed by counsel and a Board has been nominated, and acceptances receivied. It has a open membership and a single lifetime fee of $100, and a reverse funding agreement for production companies. Membership includes a monthly newsletter/magazine, an email address, and profile/resume hosting on a secured web site. All this is has been set up on spec, and commitment letters acquired. The group is just waiting out the current seasons, and is scheduled for a January 1, 2006 start up. I am just curious how others feel about this situation. I am personally add odds with my feelings on the matter, seeing benefits and drawbacks. There are several groups that will be seriously affected by these procedings and there are plans for spreading this out regionally to the surrounding cities and counties in a increasing radius per year until being statewide. Thoughts??? |
Replies:
Posted By: dboris
Date Posted: 10/13/05 at 12:42pm
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I think it depends on how diverse the "large group of Actors" is. If this is primarily a group of actors who have not been actively involved in other aspects of community theater (technical, directing, producing, administrative, etc) and just want to do shows, then it may be a problem. To create an orginization like this that will really work you have to have a diverse group of people who understand all the aspects of running a theater. Dan |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 10/13/05 at 1:25pm
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So - essentially, there are actors who don't like the plays or
casting choices that are being made by producing companies, so they're going to try to commandeer these organizations? LOL well - if they're as adept at bookkeeping, financing, promotion and publicity, etc as they are at acting, I'd say it's a free country. But, of course, most people who are involved in those areas do NOT have the freedom and time to actually perform in plays. And I highly doubt that people who are experienced in doing those things will be bothered to do them after being told they're no longer of use to the organization. So - when this 'union' boycotts a theatre, and that theatre is doing Hamlet - please give them my number - LOL. I'll be glad to be a scab and break the strike lines to play the title role. LOL |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:49am
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Cor Blimey! This comes about regularly, in the community theatre cycle of ?what we are about?? It always ends up in the same situation, as the old ?Awk Awk Bird?, who fly?s around in ever diminishing circles? Now if you suggested this for techy?s! I might see some possible benefits that could arise, but not for ?warm props?, ?Luvies? &/or ?twirlies?. ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: NickCharles3
Date Posted: 10/17/05 at 3:05am
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Let me please clarify this topic, since it appears you are in my area, and I am aware of this situation.
Contrary to opinions above, this is not a break the strike union. It is simply an organization to help guide community theater. Prticipation is not necessary for theaters or performers or tech. It is open to all.
Membership provides a newsletter/magazine that will honestly review productions, run audition information, production information, tips, interviews etc. It also will sponsor a yearly awards dinner with critics, audience and performer voting categories. These also include awards for several overlooked categories including technical awards and marketing awards for posters and attendance.(hey many of these people make a production and get no credit)
In addition, the plan is set up to provide a foundation to encourage the development of alternative production companies with strict guidelines for funding request. This aspect requires membership for eligibility, and proceeds are returned to the foundation to reimburse funding and for future loans, but provide for stipends for all involved.
The only stipulation that constrains the theaters is for beneficial purposes. Participation puts restraints on production cost, and scheduling. Member theaters will be required to use a unified playbill. This is to reduce printing cost, and to enable advertising sales on a large scale. Advertising will be sold for the playbill and the newsletter magazine. Advertising revenue will go to the foundation and will be used to fund productions through grants.
Since it is a non-profit foundation encompassing so many groups, it will be easier to solicit corporate and individual donations, and will provide a blanket for the many groups without non-profit status. It is actually a very good plan that took three years developing by some major contributors to the arts.
It also has a patron membership that provides a 10-20% discount on tickets for audiences. The true goal is to establish a individual foundation the can free the theaters of holding their hands out for government cheese.
Arts should provide for themselves. Survival should not be at the whim of politicians, but should be earned like respect from their patrons and participants.
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Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 10/17/05 at 8:17am
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Good luck with your organization - sounds like an incredibly
complex undertaking. I, personally, disagree with your outlook on the government's involvement in the arts. Though, LOL, I don't believe the arts should be 'at the whim' of politicians (which is why my car has a bumpersticker that read 'the artless are in charge of funding the arts'), I *do* believe that the government should fund art projects - especially new and innovative work. I believe that the U.S. is the only major western country that doesn't have a national theatre, isn't it? If the theatre is to be supported only by its patrons, aren't we pretty much just throwing up our hands and saying that theatre is viable only as a venue for the wealthy? I've a firm believer in the old adage that "a society can be judged by the way it treats its poor and its artists." By the way LOL as a 501(c)3 organization, isn't the government involved in alleviating some of your expenses? However, LOL, politics aside - good luck with your endeavor! |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/17/05 at 9:14am
We don't have one either! Ooops sorry i forgot. We are not in the Western World - come to think of it- we are not even a major country! But I would agree - if we were! Can I copy your bumper sticker?  ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 10/17/05 at 12:45pm
ROFLMAO sure 
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Posted By: Shatcher
Date Posted: 10/17/05 at 3:41pm
| I see the point of starting a group like this but I feel it will not work. if a theatre doesn't want to be involved they still have to raise funds and are going to dt that the way they always do. this will split the funding base in the area and push out the little guy. Is this really what you want?. Also... Where are the techies in this? if this was started by a group of actors what will they do for tech? will this funding help really benfit all theatres involved or just the ones the group of actors likes? I hope it works out for them but they should be ready for the drama. with that many actors involved in something there is bound to be lots. |