Running Your Theater: New Theatre

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New Theatre

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=2332
Printed Date: 10/31/25 at 6:25am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: New Theatre

Posted By: brianwolters
Subject: New Theatre
Date Posted: 4/04/07 at 12:12pm

Hello...I have a question about forming a theatre.

Myself and another person in town want to officially start our community theatre. We want creative input over what is performed over our theatre with the options to direct or act in a show of our choice but need to have a board in place for matters of financials and order.

That said, does this kind of hierarchy work and is it possible? Basically, her and I wont ever be officers but we want to see our dream and goals fold out like we want.

Thanks,
Brian

Replies:

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 4/04/07 at 10:00pm

You need to incorporate, but be sure you have perpetual duration. Best bet is to seek the advice of a lawyer. Ask around and find one who will work for little or no money (they all do some amount of gratis work). This kind of hierarchy DOES work, but you need to have all your T's crossed and I's dotted before you move any further along ... be sure you have everything laid out exactly as you want it before you send in any paperwork.

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In a world of margarine, be butter!

Posted By: brianwolters
Date Posted: 4/06/07 at 5:24pm

Originally posted by Nanette

You need to incorporate, but be sure you have perpetual duration. Best bet is to seek the advice of a lawyer. Ask around and find one who will work for little or no money (they all do some amount of gratis work). This kind of hierarchy DOES work, but you need to have all your T's crossed and I's dotted before you move any further along ... be sure you have everything laid out exactly as you want it before you send in any paperwork.

Great...it isn't like we are "control freaks" but we don't want to lose our vision...but a board can decide anytime to "fire" us, correct?

Posted By: dougb
Date Posted: 4/09/07 at 12:19pm

There are other things you can do to retain control. I have seen by-laws that give almost all the power to the Artistic Director and another set that gives the power to the President.

Each state has a minimum number of people on a board of directors. Most states that I am aware of that number is three. You could appoint a good friend to that third seat and be assured of permanent control. Most theaters have larger boards to spread the work and raise money for the theater.

The secret to control is the Nominating Committee who gets to select the candidate(s) for the board. Another secret is the number who can change the by-laws or Articles of Incorporation - make the number high - like 75% instead of a simple majority.

As suggested above a lawyer can help draft language that will give you whatever control you want.

As a sideline, I have seen discussions of theaters who are moving into their teen years. For the most part, theaters that are formed by and individual with a vision, maintain that vision as long as the founder remains involved. The teen years begin when that founder leaves and the organization struggles to find a new/changed vision to carry them into the future.

I started our theater eight years ago and appointed the first Board of Directors and I am still President, still select the season and do all the rest of the stuff to keep us going. We have only had one change on the Board of Directors in all that time. No one wants to leave. We are still having fun.

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 4/10/07 at 9:40am

As dougb stated, you can do things to retain control. If you are appointing your own board (these are not elected positions remember) you simply make sure that those appointed know what your vision is and why. Appoint yourself "executive director", your partner as "artistic director", a spouse as "production director", etc. That way you guarantee your position.

You can also state in your paperwork that your theatre ends when when you decide to retire or step down or whatever, unless you transfer the corporation to another.

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In a world of margarine, be butter!

Posted By: doublezero420
Date Posted: 4/14/07 at 12:13am

I would suggest *first* holding a public meeting to be sure that there is enough interest in a community theater. Also if you are insisting on maintaining control it becomes less of a "community" theater and more of a "private" theater. I am the Veep of a small community theater in Indiana getting ready to start its 32nd season. If you would like to see our by-laws and other governing docs, they are online at http://www.geocities.com/rushcountyplayers/documents.html - http://www.geocities.com/rushcountyplayers/documents.html

Posted By: brianwolters
Date Posted: 4/19/07 at 3:48pm

[QUOTE=doublezero420]I would suggest *first* holding a public meeting to be sure that there is enough interest in a community theater. Also if you are insisting on maintaining control it becomes less of a "community" theater and more of a "private" theater. I am the Veep of a small community theater in Indiana getting ready to start its 32nd season. If you would like to see our by-laws and other governing docs, they are online at http://www.geocities.com/rushcountyplayers/documents.html%5b/QUOTE - http://www.geocities.com/rushcountyplayers/documents.html[/QUOTE ]

Thanks...I will take a look at them.

We had a show last fall and we drew 700 people in 6 shows...I would call that a success. Also, the Mayor is asking us if we would like the old City Gym (we would pay for the upkeep). That is ideal but we have small budget still. We may apply for a grant to clean up the building, adding lighting and sound and go from there.

Back to the board questions again...This is a dream of my partner and myself. We want to see this happen and have the most input. So, what would our roles be referred to if we had a Board to keep us "in check"?

Thanks,
Brian

Posted By: krisk71
Date Posted: 4/22/07 at 9:40pm

I just wanted to tell you I started a Community/Youth theater group almost 2 years ago. I have kept it a for profit group because I have heard horror stories of founders getting voted out by boards, and you do not get to control everything a board does etc....

Keeping it for profit I keep the control and make the decisions. I have a great group that I pay to work with me- we charge tuitions for my childrens shows to help cover costs. I always invest any earnings for future show rights etc... so at year end I am not sitting on money and have to pay tons of taxes. I budget in a way that we use what we make. I work with an accountant to guide me.

But bottom line if you want to keep control- keep it for profit.

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Kristina
www.capitalareaproductions.com

Posted By: dougb
Date Posted: 4/24/07 at 11:22am

I respectfully disagree. By being for profit, you cut yourself off from grants and major donations - last year over 35% of our income was from grants and donations of $500 or more. The big donors want to see that 501(c)(3).

You can keep control by having a small board of directors and through the by-laws you write. I think Washington State calls for a minimum of three directors. The by-laws specify how board members are nominated and elected. You can keep control by controlling the nominating process. I used to work for a non profit that required the incumbent director to be re-nominated if he/she so desired and only required one candidate for the position. Another set of by-laws makes the board members whose terms are not expiring the nominating committee. Another set allows the President to nominate board members subject to the approval of the rest of the board.

Control is what you make it.

Posted By: Shatcher
Date Posted: 4/25/07 at 12:15pm

We all want to see our vision in our theatre but remember that theatre is a team sport, and people like to feel like they have a say in what happens. One of the theatres I worked with went belly up because the 2 guys who set it up stoped getting along. Most of their staff and vols left because of the whole it is my vision or no theatre thing. We were told that only their vision was right and even though many of us had studied theatre just like they did we could not know as much as they do. These 2 guys went so far as to send a letter out to a cast that had just finished it's run telling them they didn't know squat about the art of theatre and that because the director had a BS in theatre from Northwest Missouri State U he knew more about theatre and therefore what was best for the entire theatre community. needless to say this guy can not get a gig anywhere in town because of his almighty vision.(btw, the show has been a smash with 6 sellouts and rave reviews)

It is fine to maintain control but remember some folks are going to hate you for it. If you run the theatre is such a way that people feel like they have a voice you will be great. If yours are the only 2 voices you may run into trouble.

Just keep in mind that every theatre artist has their own vision and because we also all have egos, even us techies.

Good luck I hope it all comes out well. keep us posted.