TCG Bulletin

July 2009, Volume 32, Issue 7

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Also online this month:

FIELD LETTER

For the July Field Letter, Teresa asked TCG's director of audience development, Phillip Matthews, to write about nationwide audience trends and the work that TCG is doing to assist theatres across the country in their audience development efforts. Phillip offers descriptions of many of the audience development programs administered by TCG, including Free Night of Theater, which will have its fifth anniversary on October 15. He writes, "The program provides a unique opportunity for theatres, service organizations, arts councils and even city governments to collaborate on a nationwide initiative that increases theatre visibility, provides new sponsorship opportunities and introduces new audiences to the joy of theatre for the first time. Theatres are then provided with successful audience retention “best practices” that assist in bringing those patrons back. "

• Click here to view the July 2009 Field Letter.

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Monthly Mental Health Moment

Several years ago, inmates at a Filipino prison rose to cyber-stardom when a video of their reenactment of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” went viral. Last week, after Jackson died, they reprised their efforts with an epic dance tribute to a medley of Jackson’s songs. The prisoners had only ten hours to rehearse the ten-minute dance sequence, and the results were seamless—can your actors do that?!

As it turns out, dancing is mandatory at Cebu Detention and Rehabilitation Center—it was introduced as a means of rehabilitating prisoners, and according to prison officials, it has played an instrumental role in drastically reducing violence and gang activity among inmates. While these videos are great tributes to the King of Pop, they're also great tributes to the transformative power of the arts. On a related note, in last month’s issue of American Theatre Eliza Bent’s Strategies column focused on a theatre program for ex-convicts. Similarly, these actors were “transformed by their confidence and pride in participating in such an important and unusual adventure.”

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TCG NEWS

Theatre Facts 2008 Soon to be Released

Each year, TCG conducts a thorough fiscal survey in which many of our member theatres participate. The data gathered in the Fiscal Survey becomes the basis for Theatre Facts, TCG’s annual in-depth industry report. Theatre Facts is the only document analyzing the national not-for-profit theatre field and is a vital advocacy and policy tool for trustees, foundation and corporate executives, policy makers and the national press.

Action: Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement. We expect to release Theatre Facts 2008 within the first few weeks of July

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Save the Date: Fall Forum 2009 on Governance in New York City

The date for this year’s Fall Forum has been set for November 6-8 in New York, NY.

Action: Visit the Fall Forum section of the website for more information. Mark your calendars for November 6-8!

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Register for the TCG Brain Bank!

UPDATED This story was originally published in the June 2009 issue of the Bulletin.
The first batch of TCG Brain Bank participants has been matched and their partnerships are well under way. In addition, we experienced a great turnout for “TCG Brain Bank: Live at the Conference!” Both programs have generated extremely positive feedback from participants. Executive leadership at TCG member theatres are encouraged to register to be a Knowledge Donor or a Peer today!

Action: Visit the Brain Bank section of the website to learn more and register.

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More Free Night Program Research Released

UPDATED This story was originally published in the June 2009 issue of the Bulletin.
In addition to the Free Night 2008 research announced in the June Bulletin, we are happy to share the results of an exciting "intrinsic value" study that nationally renowned researcher Alan Brown has done on the San Francisco Free Night program.

Action: Visit the Research & Demographics page in the Free Night section of the website for details on both research reports. Also, be sure to check out the July Field Letter which focuses on audience development and the Free Night program.

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2009-2010 TCG Theatre Membership Renewals

UPDATED This story was originally published in the June 2009 issue of the Bulletin.
The deadline for TCG Theatre Membership renewals is June 30.

Action: Email Jen Cleary immediately to avoid suspension of your membership if you have not already submitted renewal materials.