Running Your Theater: America's largest community theatrer

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America's largest community theatrer

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Theater Administration
Forum Name: Running Your Theater
Forum Discription: General questions about how to make it work
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3934
Printed Date: 4/27/24 at 7:33pm
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Topic: America's largest community theatrer

Posted By: theatre junkie
Subject: America's largest community theatrer
Date Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:10pm

This is an article about The Omaha Community Playhouse, America's largest community theater. Very interesting would love to hear thoughts and opinions.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2620&u_sid=10607010

Replies:

Posted By: gaftpres
Date Posted: 4/22/09 at 11:00pm

I think it is a prime example of how the trickle economics affects everyone. Unfortunately, all arts programs are in jeopardy of losing income. The timing was obviously not that great, however would it ever be in that situation. The cast is obviously loyal to the director and respect his work, dedication and efforts to this theatre. If money is that tight for them, maybe they should go dark for a year and do some fundraising to stay afloat. Like any corporation (profit or non) in this economy, you need to cut corners to stay alive. It is even more difficult when the theatre is a tight knit family. Best of luck to all of us tying a knot on the end of our rope to hang in there.

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Old volunteers never die, they just get recycled!

Posted By: John Luzaich
Date Posted: 4/23/09 at 3:45pm

Omaha has a large organization with a great reputation for many years. There is no easy answer for them. You would have to look at the budget, expenses & revenues before making any decisions on what to do over the next couple of seasons. I'm not close to their situation so I would not pass judgement on what they should do to salvage their profitability.

They have two major issues brought up in the article to resolve. One is the whole personnel issue and the other, a management/budget issue. Their group as a whole is larger than many professional arts 501 (c) (3)'s.

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John
cfct@cfu.net
http://www.osterregent.org
http://www.facebook.com/osterregent

Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 4/23/09 at 4:30pm

"Beck's salary that year was $96,969, the playhouse's second-highest. Schmad's was $125,000, plus a leased car. Collins was not listed among the top five earners."

Sorry, but as someone directing for free I can't really relate to this. Couldn't they solve the problem by keeping both of them at, say, sixty grand each?

Posted By: dramacorrect
Date Posted: 4/25/09 at 9:38pm

Uh wow. Omaha's not that far from us, and they have an impeccable reputation. However, $100,000!? Holy cow. I've been full time for ten years managing a staff of 4 and make well under $30,000. Our AD is part time, 28 hours a week but doesn't direct our shows. I don't know..I'd have to think there are other places to cut as well. I know I have LOTS of ideas of where our CT could cut a lot of $$.

I'm not pleased that actors quit the show, but I also feel that was a poor decision on timing. I hope the show went on ok for them.

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