Daily Loaf

The highest-attended play in American Stage history.

There’s a lot being made about the state of professional theater in America these days.  You see theater closings almost daily, arts organization bailout packages are a hot topic, calls are being made for President Obama to create a Secretary of the Arts, layoffs are ubiquitous and now even the Kennedy Center is pitching in to provide support for arts organizations that may not make it another year.

Our industry is by no means recession-proof, and one that appears to be in as much trouble as the rest of the country. Yet, somehow, most of the professional theaters in the Tampa Bay area seem to be amidst their best seasons.

The following is from a joint release put together by the leaders of American Stage, Jobsite Theater, Stageworks Theatre and Gorilla Theatre:

“We just had the best Fall we have had in our 30 years,” says Todd Olson, Producing Artistic Director at American Stage. “In December we broke our season subscription record, and our new After Hours series attracted another 6,000 patrons. More people saw theater at American Stage this season than any other time in our history.”

David M. Jenkins, Producing Artistic Director at Jobsite Theater, reports similar milestones. “Our season ticket sales are up 55% this season (2008-09), the largest boom we’ve ever seen.” Jobsite revenues were up 29% last year (2007-08), and so far this season they are on pace to top that by a long stretch.

People seem to be coming to local theaters in record numbers too. Anna Brennan, Artistic Director at Tampa’s Stageworks Theatre, reports that her subscriptions this season have doubled and overall attendance is up 35%. Artistic Director Bridget Bean reports that Gorilla Theatre sold more tickets for their recent production of Six Degrees of Separation than for any recent productions despite construction in their theatre that reduced their number of seats.

Attendance at Jobsite’s first show of 2009 shattered their expectations. Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile enjoyed an extension, and eventually played to 1,659 people over 16 performances, a new record for a four-week run for the company in both box office grosses and attendance.

Last December A Tuna Christmas became the highest-attended play in American Stage’s 30-year history.

Fundraising also seem to be up. Jobsite’s major fundraiser, Jobsite’s Rockin’ 10th Birthday Party, exceeded projections by 50% and their overall general donations are up 35%. Stageworks likewise sold out their annual Gala, earning 50% more than the year before, and their box office revenues are up 20%.

While American Stage had to cut several staff positions this season, Jobsite actually added its first full-time paid position in the Producing Artistic Director. Stageworks’ annual budget has grown 20% and they are in the midst of a capital campaign. Having just completed their capital campaign, American Stage is preparing to open their new theater in June. The new Raymond James Theatre in downtown St. Petersburg will be the first theater built for a professional company in the history of Tampa Bay

“The best news is the acknowledged role that theater is playing in the economic development of our downtown areas,” says Anna Brennen. “Stageworks is positioned as a pivotal force in the revitalization of the Channel District just as Jobsite entices people to Downtown Tampa, Gorilla hails us to Drew Park and American Stage has long been a reason to spend an evening in downtown St. Petersburg.”

Personally speaking,  the rousing success of Picasso allowed us at Jobsite to get very close to paying our artists something resembling a living wage when you consider the nature of our employment.  In terms of hours, working on a Jobsite show effectively counts as part-time work.  We tend to rehearse three to four hours a night three nights a week and four to eight hours on the weekends. Some professional theaters might work more like eight hours a day five or six days a week, but for just two to three weeks of rehearsal.

When we know we can pay a living wage consistently, we too will look to move to those hours.  In the meantime our artists are also teachers, perform with children’s companies, work desk jobs or whatever else they need to do to stay afloat.

But it seems like things are improving.  Truly.

You can help make sure that continues by buying a ticket to your friendly neighborhood theater.  Instead of missing a show due to mind-slippage, or neglecting to make plans until a show is potentially sold out – try to pick up a ticket from the onset when something sounds cool.  Most theaters can keep a show running longer if sales are strong enough in advance.  We can’t predict (much less bank on) day-of sales and walkup.  You can actually make an improvement in the theater scene just by making that simple adjustment.

If you’ve already got a favorite (or more than one favorite) company, consider making a contribution.  I know I can speak for all theaters (as well as every other kind of arts organization) in town when I say there is no such thing as a small gift – every bit counts.

For now, we’re all holding our heads held high.  And we should be doing so.  This is great news for all of us.

Thanks, Tampa Bay, for making it possible.

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