Browsing by Subject "Theater management"
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Item An examination and analysis of theatre subscribers at the University of Arizona: Arizona Repertory Theatre(Texas Tech University, 1995-12) DeHesus, Julia L SmithThe performing arts and higher education have been enduring an increasingly hostile political and economic climate in recent years. With a unique role as educational arts organizations, producing university theatre arts programs face increasing pressures to expand audiences by employing marketing approaches used by professional arts organizations. This dissertation is the first in-depth study of the characteristics of a university theatre arts subscriber audience. Through conducting an audience marketing research survey this study provides an analysis of the subscription audience for the University of Arizona Department of Theatre Arts/Arizona Repertory Theatre that addresses topics related to audience identification, audience development and facilities development The survey results suggest that the respondents are older, more highly educated, and more affluent than both the average adult Tucsonan and the national average theatre attender. The data suggest that the most important reasons for subscribing are convenience, best seat assignments, and savings, and respondents attend productions for their own entertainment and cultural enrichment. An interesting finding is that a subscriber's knowledge of all of the plays in a season package is not a substantial determining factor in the subscription purchase. The data also indicates cross-marketing opportunities with the professional theatre company and symphony orchestra. Further research might address (1) why patrons attend university theatre productions, (2) how they perceive the quality of the productions, (3) identifying the characteristics of audience members, (4) determining if productions attract members of the larger community or are primarily serving the university students, faculty and staff, (5) what role the university theatre programs play in the development of theatre audiences and (6) if the role is different in a community that does or does not have access to professional theatre. The study concludes that with over 300 university and college theatre programs in the United States that fill a unique niche in the theatre industry, future research could help to define better the role of university programs not only in development of theatre artists, teachers and managers, but also in how they contribute to the vital, but often overlooked, area of audience developmentItem Avoiding Founder’s Syndrome in Arts Organizations: Studies of Successful Succession Transitions in Three Established Regional Theatres(2010-12) Justice, Debra; Donahue, Linda L.; Christoffel, Frederick B.; Marks, Jonathan; Stoune, Michael; Check, EdFounder's Syndrome may occur when an organization operates according to the personality of the founder, rather than its mission. Since arts organizations are often initiated and dominated by a single artist/founder, the potential for an art-related business to succumb to Founder’s Syndrome is high; however, several large arts organizations have not only avoided Founder’s Syndrome, they have advanced the dreams of the founder beyond original concepts. Analyzing some success stories by comparing their processes with more recently established theories can provide insights for other arts organizations during leadership transitions. The nature of this study is to show evidence that theatre organizations need not succumb to Founder’s Syndrome. I analyzed three successful regional theatres from inception through today; The Barter Theatre of Abingdon, Virginia; the Dallas Theater Center in Dallas, Texas; and the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California. Each of their founders, Robert Porterfield, Paul Baker, and William Ball, developed and implemented the concepts that defined their organizations. Today, the theatres are heralded as premier institutions amongst regional theatres. The companies were able to maneuver successfully through the tensions and difficulties that often mark leadership transitions. How this was accomplished, without the aid of today’s management theorists, is the focus of this dissertation.Item Management by objectives in community theatre: an internship report(Texas Tech University, 1980-05) Cummins, Douglas MatthewThe results of the study are presented in the following order. Chapter One includes a justification of the study as a significant area of concern, a survey of the perceptions of community theatre, and a discussion of the central problem of the internship. Chapter Two presents an application of the principles of management by objectives to community theatre organizations. Chapter Three presents the historical background of the development of management principles at the Lubbock Theatre Centre. An analysis of the present situation at the Lubbock Theatre Centre and a chronological description and analysis of the internship is included in Chapter Four. Chapter Five presents conclusions about the effectiveness of management by objectives for the community theatre and recommendations for future use of management by objectives in community theatre organizations. A production manual for the Lubbock Theatre Centre based upon procedures instigated during the internship is included in Appendix A.Item Producing and managing university performances abroad for U.S. study abroad programs(2012-05) Robison, Dorian James; Mickey, Susan E.; Cloyes, Rusty; Martel, Denise V.This thesis is an exploration of information and theory relative to the development and management of performances within university level theatre and dance study abroad programs. Only U.S. theatre and dance study abroad programs in foreign countries are examined. This research is focused on programs that not only include performance, but also the entire creative and production process within the duration of their time abroad. Even with these constraints, the information provided is applicable to programs of non-U.S. institutions and programs that tour a performance abroad. The core of this thesis is an examination of the 2011 cycle of the University of Texas Theatre in Italy study abroad program. Through online research and e-mail I will also research similar study abroad programs, presenting information on curricula, program host city, program duration abroad and program website. Supporting literature is found in several fields; study abroad program creation, theatre management, production and administration. A synthesis of this knowledge is essential to the success of producing and managing in an abroad academic setting. This research will be a resource for current or potential study abroad program directors interested in integrating a performance in their own program. An introduction of common study abroad models and theatre curricula will be presented to provide context and vocabulary for the remainder of the research. I will define my own role as production manager and describe the responsibilities thereof. The following chapters will cover the management and logistics involved in selecting a performance piece and students, budgeting, travel, and production. For myself, this thesis is only the beginning of my own exploration in producing performances in an international setting. This experience and study was an opportunity for me to encounter some of the challenges common to producing abroad and touring internationally. In addition to this, I believe producing internationally is a positive way to share our own rich culture as well as an opportunity for Americans to discover and appreciate the cultures of others. I hope this to be my first step on a long career path of international collaboration.Item Texas Tech University Theatre season subscription campaign: a marketing analysis and plan(Texas Tech University, 1998-05) Martin, Deborah GailFormal marketing research has only recently been adopted by many non-profit arts organizations. Negative perceptions about marketing concepts have previously been thought unsuitable for the arts, due to its "bottom line" association within for-profit corporations. However, due to the increased competition among arts communities as a result of a shrinking fijnding base, the arts are looking closely to the adoption of formal marketing practices within their administrations. Many arts organizations currently find themselves in a crisis situation of a dwindling patron base as a result of the organization not having enough information about the patrons' wants and attendance behavior. Without this information, the arts are unable to promote their product, and communicate effectively and efficiently to their audiences. This dissertation reveals the results of formal marketing research conducted at the Texas Tech University Department of Theatre and Dance, specifically addressing the audience profiles of the Mainstage season subscribers. The research was conducted over a five month period using a written survey, a focus group interview, a marketing audit, and observation and informal discussions with subscribers, departmental faculty, and staff.Item The creation of a strategic planning model for small not-for-profit theatres: an internship project(Texas Tech University, 1996-08) Davis, Ginny A.Although business management practices have been studied since the late nineteenth century, only recently has the not-for-profit world of arts administration begun utilizing basic business principles. Even though the business world has proven the effectiveness of those principles, many arts organizations still resist integrating business principles into their daily working activities. The field of strategic planning has received very little attention from the not-for-profit world of theatre. An absence of knowledge about the field as it pertains to theatres, as well as a fear of the time consuming nature of planning, limits the uses of this type of planning which ultimately has the potential to enhance the efficiency of these organizations. This study combines current theories of strategic planning from the business world with working knowledge of small not-forprofit theatre organizations gained through an internship program at Theatre Three in Dallas, Texas, in order to create a general planning model specifically for small not for-profit theatres. The implementation of worksheets and formats at Theatre Three helped refine these tools. Planning systems offer small not-for-profit theatres a way to examine their relationship to the outside world, and to account for changes in that world as they plan for their future.Item The impact of computerized box office systems on selected theatres in America(Texas Tech University, 1995-12) Nodsle, Kitty CatherineThe use of personal computers (PCs) has mushroomed in the United States during the last decade. The arts have followed this trend cautiously. The box offices of many theatres, large and small, still use hard, or paper, tickets for both single ticket events and for season or series subscriptions. This dissertation is the first in-depth study of current computerized box office systems and their use in specific theatres. The methodology of the project is a case study comparison of two large academic theatres, two small academic theatres, and two professional theatres and the systems they use. The theatres involved in the study are Brigham Young University, Imperial Theatre, Papermill Playhouse, Pennsylvania State University, Southwest Missouri State University, and University of Arizona. Emphasis is on the opportunities or problems that led the organizations to automation, and the selection criteria and process each theatre used to choose a system. A discussion of information collection, fixnding sources, training issues, and practical apphcations is included. Each theatre administrator/box office manager outlines the advantages of the system chosen and its ability to meet the needs of the theatre, and discusses their "wish list" for the perfect automated box office system. This study includes an overview of the computerized box office systems, highlighting their technical requirements and features. Samples of box office reports and tickets produced by the systems are presented.Item Theatre Communications Group: an internship report(Texas Tech University, 2001-12) Venable, Brittney NicoleNot available