Purpose of the Program
One of the League’s most valuable services, the professional development program is designed by historic theatre professionals to engage their peers, to provide the tools and techniques to insure that historic theatres, ones that have been restored or rehabilitated during the past several decades, can be sustained for the benefit of future generations in communities large and small.
The Annual Conference & Theatre Tour offers four days of intensive professional development and peer exchange in many different formats, including tools & techniques workshops, plenary sessions, nuts & bolts sessions and peer discussion roundtables.
In 2008, the League combined peer discussions with historic theatre tours in developing a new programming format — historic theatre forums. Offered on average twice a year, forums are a means of engaging peers in discussions of common challenges, case studies and demonstrations of best practices that contribute to sustainability. By limiting attendance to 55, forums provide an intensive, intimate professional development and networking experience, focusing on the successes and challenges of prominent historic theatres in different regions of the country that act as hosts of the events. Participants appreciate that the condensed, two-day format fits into their busy schedules. In addition to discussions on a variety of topics, forum participants attend public performances and go behind-the-scenes for first-hand views of historic theatres of diverse sizes, budgets, programming philosophies and organizational structures.
If you have suggestions for topics you would like you see us cover in future forums or conference sessions, you would like to host a forum at your historic theatre, or you are interested in becoming a presenter or in sponsorship opportunities associated with future conferences or forums, please contact the LHAT staff.
JUST ANNOUNCED: A new forum for historic theatres: IT TAKES A VILLAGE, October 18-20, 2009, hosted by Proctors in Schenectady, New York. read more...
Click here to read about past LHAT Professional Development offerings.
The League is pleased to present a new day-and-a-half forum using the experiences of Proctors and Schenectady, NY as a lens for investigating the complicated and inter-connected work of community and cultural development ...
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
| WHEN: |
Sun., October 18 - Welcome Reception 7 - 9 PM (optional performance at 2PM)
Mon., October 19 - Forum 9AM - 5:30PM; Reception 5:30PM
Tue., October 20 - Forum 9AM - 12 Noon
|
| | |
| WHERE: |
Proctors - Schenectady, New York |
Download the full program brochure and registration form. If you have trouble downloading the brochure, please contact us.
REGISTER ONLINE through our secure Online Marketplace!
Forum Sponsored by:
CONTENT:
Once a company town in which General Electric was the employer and pater familias, when manufacturing moved south, then abroad, Schenectady declined, then reached rock bottom a dozen years ago.
Community leaders initiated an aggressive redevelopment and expansion plan with Proctors — a partially restored, fairly busy, but never modernized old vaudeville theater — as the core element to revitalize the central business district. Proctors is now a multi-theater, community performing arts center open year round and hosting major Broadway, pop concerts, comedy, dance, theater, Iwerks giant screen films, visual arts exhibits, conferences, chess tournaments and a weekly indoor farmer's market. Its physical presence extends far into the community, including a central heating and chilling plant that heats five neighbors (hotels, an office complex, and YMCA) and melts ice and snow on sidewalks around the entire block of the theater.
Proctors’ $42 million investment leveraged over $150 million of other private and public expenditures, building new streets, new office buildings, a new six-screen movie theater and shopping and restaurants.
This effort was community wide… public planning, meeting and investment… private investment… tough timetables.… Join us to celebrate a great success story, learn from them and advise them as they continue on the path of cultural and community renewal.
FEES: Includes welcome reception on Sunday, lunch on Monday, and refreshment breaks each day. (Breakfast included in hotel (Hampton Inn) registration.)
Discounted Rates on or before September 18:
| Active LHAT Member |
$299 per person |
| Active w/team discount* |
$239 per person |
| Nonmember |
$399 per person |
| Nonmember w/team discount* |
$320 per person |
Full Rates after September 18:
| Active LHAT Member |
$359 per person |
| Active w/team discount* |
$289 per person |
| Nonmember |
$479 per person |
| Nonmember w/team discount* |
$385 per person |
*Organizations registering three or more individuals at the same time are eligible to receive a 20% discount on each registration. (This is a great way for your team to learn together!)
Please see brochure for cancellation policy.
ACCOMODATIONS:
Hampton Inn Schnectady
450 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
LHAT Rate: $134 (+12% Tax) per night (single/double occ.), including breakfast each morning.
Make reservations on or before September 18, 2009. Call 518-377-4500 and mention the League of Historic American Theatres to receive the group rate.
Download the full program brochure and registration form. If you have trouble downloading the brochure, please contact us.
REGISTER ONLINE through our secure Online Marketplace!
PAST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
On November 2-4, LHAT hosted its second historic theatre forum of 2008, Film Exhibition in the 21st Century: A Programming Forum for Historic Theatres. Hosted by Ann Arbor's Michigan Theater, the forum focused on solving complicated programming problems, developing marketing tricks and techniques, understanding digital and celluloid cinema equipment and exhibition techniques and learning the important role of film education in developing audiences for historic theatres. For a day and a half, seasoned historic theatre managers and film programming professionals shared and facilitated discussions on best practices in cinema marketing and programming.
The forum's 30 participants represented 20 different historic theatres and came from 13 U.S. states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and the Canadian province of Alberta.
Forum participants networked to share experiences and best practices during receptions, dinner and a "nuts & bolts" session, as well as a tour of and two special film screenings at the Michigan Theater.
The League extends special thanks to our host:
And the forum facilitators:
- Russ Collins, Michigan Theater Executive Director & CEO
- Paul Beutel, Film Programming for Historic Theatres
- Amanda Bynum, Michigan Theater Operations Director
- Walt Bishop, Michigan Theater Head Projectionist
- Scott Clarke, Michigan Theater Technical Director
- Jeff Frank, Drexel Theatres Group
- Jenny Jackson, Michigan Theater Marketing Coordinator
- Jan Klingelhofer, Michigan Theater Film Programming Consultant
- Deb Lake, State Theatre/Traverse City Film Festival
- Martin McCaffery, Capri Community Film Society
- Tara Schroeder, Tampa Theatre
- Stephanie Silverman, Belcourt Theatre
On April 13-15, LHAT hosted its first successful 2008 Historic Theatre Forum, Historic Theatres in Small Communities: Catalysts for Economic Revitalization. Sponsored by Charles Cosler Theatre Design and hosted by the Newberry Opera House, the forum focused on the leading role theatres play in attracting visitors, recruiting industry, expanding existing industry and enhancing quality of life in America's small cities and towns. It featured seasoned historic theatre managers, staff members, community leaders and professional historic theatre architects and consultants who shared their experiences in positioning historic theatres as catalysts for economic and cultural development within communities.
The forum's 38 registrants represented 16 different historic theatres and came from 16 U.S. states, including South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Florida, Alabama, Wisconsin and Kansas. One member traveled all the way to Newberry from the Canadian province of Alberta!
The forum registrants and facilitators networked to share experiences and best practices during several coffee & conversation times, a nuts & bolts session, and during dinner after the formal session had ended. They also were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Opera House, conducted by NOH staff, and a tour of downtown Newberry, conducted by a local historian.
The League extends it thanks to:
The Forum Sponsor: 
The Forum Host: The Newberry Opera House
The South Carolina Arts Commission
And the Forum Facilitators:
- Wayne Adams Newberry County Administrator
- Stephen Barefoot, President, going barefoot, inc.
- G. Michael Briggs, Central South Carolina Alliance
- Eric Budds, Manager, City of Newberry
- Charles Cosler, Principal, Charles Cosler Theatre Desig
- George Culver, Executive Director, Talladega's Historic Ritz Theatre
- Martha Derrick, Volunteer Chair, Newberry Opera House
- Susan Derrick, Vice President, Newberry Opera House Guild
- Ron Geyer, Architect, Craig Gaulden Davis
- Jessica Harmon, Box Office Manager, Newberry Opera House
- Donna Heins, Consultant, Theatre Consultants Collaborative
- Thomas Johnson, AIA, Principal, Martinez & Johnson Architecture
- Lilja Lyasght, General Manager, Newberry Opera House
- Margaret Pope, Bond Attorney
- Mark Sanders, Technical Director, Newberry Opera House
- Ernest Shealy, Local Newberry Historian
- Deborah Smith, NOH Executive Director, Newberry Opera House
- Kyle Smith, ASTC, Consultant, Theatre Consultants Collaborative
- Nicholas Smith, Musical Director, South Carolina Philharmonic
- Susie Surkamer, Executive Director, SC Arts Commissio
- Peggie West, Board Member, Newberry Opera House
- Glenn White, Booking Agent
- Dr. Jim Wiseman, Chairman of the Board, Newberry Opera House
LHAT's final professional development offering of 2007, Curtains Up! Restoring Historic Theatres and Revitalizing Communities, was presented Nov. 8-10 in Milwaukee. Hosted by the Midwest Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the seminar sold out with more than 75 people attending!
The seminar was co-sponsored by:
The event was generously underwritten by the Jeffris Family Foundation of Janesville, Wisconsin.
Seminar Resources:
Power Point Presentation#1 - B/W PDF (7 MB)
Power Point Presentation#1 - Color PDF (17.4 MB)
Power Point Presentation#2 - B/W PDF (19.3 MB)
Power Point Presentation#2 - Color/W PDF (57.4 MB)
For more information, contact the presenters:
- Killis P. Almond, FAIA, RID, Killis P. Almond & Associates - San Antonio, TX
- Janis A. Barlow, Janis Barlow & Associates - Toronto, ON
- Fran Holden, LHAT, Moderator
- Dulcie Gilmore, Arie Crown Theater, Chicago, IL
- Dennis Sankovich, Riley Center for Education & Performing Arts - Meridian, MS
- Darlene Smolik, Plymouth Soundings, LLC - Loudon, TN
Seminar attendees Nancy Howell, Lisa Bostwick and Tim Kelly join LHAT board member Numa Saisselin at the post-seminar reception at the Idea Center.
Our first professional development seminar of 2007 was offered in conjunction with Playhouse Square on April 18-19 at the Idea Center in Cleveland. The seminar sold out with an enrollment of 53 people representing more than 27 historic theatres! Joining the more than 58% of registrants from the state of Ohio, were LHAT members and non-members from Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Tennessee and Canada.
Seminar attendee Don Telford and LHAT Board Vice President Jim Boese mingle with seminar presenters Kerry and Herb Stratford at the reception.
Following day one of the seminar, Playhouse Square's director of Theater Operations, John Hemsath led the group on an extensive tour of the PHS historic theatres. Immediately following day two of the seminar, attendees joined members of the League's board of directors, staff, and other invited guests for a cocktail reception hosted by Playhouse Square and Westlake Reed Leskosky (WRL). WRL's Managing Principal, Paul Westlake, Jr., FAIA, also offered tours of the Idea Center during the reception.
Special thanks to all who contributed to the success of this event, including:
Our seminar presenters and Q&A panelists:
- Molly Fortune, Restoration Dept. Director, The Fabulous Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA
- Herb Stratford, Executive Director, The Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation, Tucson, AZ
- Kerry Stratford, Principal & Creative Director, The Caliber Group, Tucson, AZ
- Dulcie Gilmore, Director, Arie Crown Theater, Chicago, IL
- John Hemsath, Director of Theater Operations, Playhouse Square Foundation, Cleveland, OH
- Lance Olson, Manager, Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College, Boston, MA
- Numa Saisselin, CEO, Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ
- Harry Scanlan, Executive Director, Paramount Center for the Arts, Bristol, TN
Our generous tour and reception hosts:
Restoration Dept. Director Molly Fortune addresses the LHAT group at the Meet & Greet Reception
Seminar attendees mingle at the reception hosted by the Fabulous Fox and board member Joe Patten (shown seated at left).
Many from the LHAT group were also able to take advantage of the “full Fox experience” by attending a performance of the award-winning show, “The Light in the Piazza!”
Special thanks to all who contributed to the success of this event, including:
SEMINAR PRESENTERS:
OUR GENEROUS HOSTS:
- Allan Vella, General Manager
- Adina Alford Erwin, Assistant General Manager
- Molly Fortune, Restoration Department Director
- Joe Patten, Board Member
- Sunshine Tucker, Box Office Manager
- Nikki Griffin, Sales and Marketing
- Pat Prill, House Manager
- Jamie Vossmeier, Group Sales
- Food and Beverage Department
Eighteen people attended our second seminar of 2006. They came to Boston from Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania to gain practical new information about how to fully engage audiences while ensuring access and managing risk in their historic theatres. With our panel of experts they explored the best practices for recognizing and avoiding risks, managing crowds, accommodating special guests, preparing for emergencies, protecting against disasters and insuring against unavoidable losses.
As part of the seminar, the group enjoyed an icebreaker reception at the historic Boston Park Plaza hotel sponsored by Wilson Butler Architects. Attendees also joined the LHAT board and local guests at a Thursday evening reception and tour of the Boston Opera House hosted by Broadway in Boston and Martinez & Johnson/ Architecture.
Special thanks to all who contributed to the success of this event, including:
OUR PRESENTERS:
- Lance Olson, Cutler Majestic Theatre, moderator
- Stephen Clark, Affiliated FM
- Keith Marston, The Shubert Organization
- John Faust, Stanley Theatre (Utica, NY)
- Paul Green and Connie Stothoff, National Trust Insurance Services
- Nicole Kindred, Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College
- George Noonan, Emerson College
- William Patterson, Audio Description Solutions
- Brian Reich, Mindshare Interactive Campaigns, LLC
OUR THEATRE TOUR and RECEPTION HOSTS:
- Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College
- Wilson Butler Architects
- Broadway in Boston
- Martinez & Johnson / Architecture
Twenty-five people attended the seminar, coming to sunny L.A. from as far away as Alabama, Massachusetts and Alaska to learn about the many options available for financing historic theatre rehabilitation projects.
On the evening before the seminar began, the group was hosted to a tour of the Los Angeles Theatre in L.A.’s Broadway District, followed by a reception in the theatre’s lobby. On the last day of seminar, attendees were invited to network with the LHAT Board and local guests at a reception sponsored by the Nederlander Organization at the historic Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.
Special thanks to all who contributed to the success of this event, including:
OUR PRESENTERS:
- Killis P. Almond, FAIA, RID - Killis Almond & Associates, San Antonio, TX
- Dennis Sankovich - Riley Education and Performing Arts Center, Mississippi State University, Meridian Campus
- Christine Fedukowski - National Trust Community Investment Corporation, El Dorado Hills, CA
- Kirk Carrison - National Trust Community Investment Corporation, Washington, DC
- Herb Stratford - Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation, Tucson, AZ
- Craig McPike - Snell & Wilmer, LLC, Phoenix, AZ
- Ralph Megna - Empire Development Solutions, Riverside, CA
OUR THEATRE TOUR and RECEPTION HOSTS:
- The Owners of the Los Angeles Theatre
- Carey Upton, Manager, Los Angeles Theatre
- The Nederlander Organization
- Jim Boese, Vice President, Nederlander
- Jeff Loeb, Director of Operations, Pantages Theatre
Thirty people attended the seminar, coming to New Hampshire from as far away as Montana and North Carolina to learn about the many options available for financing historic theatre rehabilitation projects.
On the evening of first day of the seminar, the group was invited to tour the Phenix Theatre, an unrestored historic theatre on the third floor of a downtown building. Abraham Lincoln made one of his first campaign speeches in the Phenix.
Afterwards, the group was treated to a lovely reception and tour of the historic Kimball House, followed by a thorough tour of the Capitol Center for the Arts. A good time was had by all!
Special thanks to all who contributed to the success of this event, including:
OUR PRESENTERS:
- Chad Hershner - President & CEO, The Paramount Theater of Charlottesville, Inc., Charlottesville, VA
- Susan Sperber - Co-Founder of The Palmer Westport Group
- Howell Palmer - Past President Board of Trustees, Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield, MA and Co-Founder, The Palmer-Westport Group
- John Leith-Tetrault - President, National Trust Community Investment Fund
- Roger Brevoort - Director of Historic Preservation, Westlake Reed Leskosky
- Darlene Smolik - Project Coordinator of the Tennessee Theatre Restoration Project in Knoxville
OUR CO-SPONSORS AND RECEPTION HOST:
- The New Hampshire Main Street Center, with special thanks to Director Kathy La Plante.
OUR SUPPORTERS:
- The New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources and the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance.
OUR THEATRE TOUR HOSTS:
- M.T. Menino for an informative tour of the Capitol Center for the Arts and Kimball House.
- Mark Ciborowski, owner and host of our tour of the Phenix Theatre.
With close to 50 people in attendance, on day one of the seminar, registrants learned about the many options available for financing historic theatre rehabilitation projects: budgeting, public sources, private sources, organizing/running successful capital campaigns, etc. On day two, the discussion covered the structure, procedures, requirements, and process for utilizing historic rehabilitation tax credits, plus how using them in tandem with the New Markets Tax Credits increases benefits for restoration projects.
Special features during the seminar included: Celebrating PA's Historic Theatres -- a presentation by the PA Historical and Museum Commission, which is focusing on preserving Pennsylvania's historic theatres in 2005. They kicked off Historic Preservation Month by unveiling a new poster. Representatives of the PA Downtown Center, PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development and PA Historical and Museum Commission discussed the results of their surveys of PA theatres and resources available for rehabilitating them, plus the state's new Historic Theater Initiative.
Special thanks to all who contributed to the success of this event, including:
- Bob Keuch and the Carlisle Regional Performing Arts Center, for hosting our opening night reception and tour.
OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS: This seminar was supported in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and in partnership with:
OUR PRESENTERS:
- Dennis Sankovich - Executive Director, Riley Education and Performing Arts Center, including the Grand Opera House, Mississippi State University, Meridian Campus
- Killis P. Almond, FAIA, RID - Principal, Killis P. Almond & Associates, Inc., San Antonio, TX
- John Leith-Tetrault - President, National Trust Community Investment Fund
- Michael Dubansky - Financial Analyst, National Trust Community Investment Corporation
- Darlene Smolik - Project Coordinator of the Tennessee Theatre Restoration Project in Knoxville
- Brian Wishneff - Brian Wishneff & Associates, Roanoke, VA
With close to 50 people in attendance, on day one of the seminar our esteemed presenters discussed the many options available for financing historic theatre rehabilitation projects: budgeting, public sources, private sources, organizing/running successful capital campaigns, etc. On day two, the discussion covered the structure, procedures, requirements, and process for utilizing historic rehabilitation tax credits, plus how using them in tandem with the New Markets Tax Credits increases benefits for restoration projects.
Special thanks to all who contributed to the success of this event, including:
- Our presenters (read more about each presenter below)
- Westlake Reed Leskosky, sponsors of our opening night reception and tour of the Hilbert Circle Theatre and the Indiana Repertory Theatre.
- Jeannie Regan-Dinius and Amy Walker, Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology and the Indiana Historic Theater Initiative.
Seminar presenters:
- Andrew S. Potts - Associate, Nixon Peabody, LLP, Washington, DC
- Dennis Sankovich - Executive Director, Riley Education and Performing Arts Center, including the Grand Opera House, Mississippi State University, Meridian Campus
- Killis P. Almond, FAIA, RID - Principal, Killis P. Almond & Associates, Inc., San Antonio, TX
- Roger Brevoort, Director of Historic Preservation, Westlake Reed Leskosky, Phoenix, AZ
On February 20-21, 2004, a group of 29 people attended a highly interactive, two-day session led by fundraising experts Halsey & Alice North of The North Group Inc. of New York, NY. The Norths were joined by LHAT theatre members, Chad Hershner, executive director of the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville, VA, and Susan Sperber, executive director of the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA. The Norths' many years and depth of experience in all aspects of fundraising for nonprofit arts organizations coupled with Hershner and Sperber's practical experience raising funds for their own historic theatre projects made this session extremely valuable to all those who attended.
The North Group Inc.
Paramount Theater
Colonial Theatre
In the session, attendees, learned how to:
- Strengthen annual fundraising.
- Deepen the commitment of donors.
- Broaden their base of support by attracting new donors.
- Build fundraising muscle - staff, board, and key volunteers.
- Identify and recruit the leadership needed to implement the campaign.
- Launch the capital campaign process with strategic planning and feasibility studies.
- Motivate board members and other key volunteers to fundraise.
- Make effective calls face-to-face.
- Create a compelling case - packaging the dream so others buy into it.
Read About LHAT's July 2003 Cultural Exchange Program To Cuba
This
session involved several speakers who each addressed
a different aspect of corporate sponsorship:
Rachel
Smith-Spencer, Acting Director of the Toronto Symphony
Orchestra, began with an introduction to the topic of
corporate sponsorship. Lori Willcox, Director of Event
Marketing & Sponsorship for the Toronto International
Film Festival, and Rob Lamb, Partner at Genovese Vanderhoof
& Associates, discussed how corporations become
"official suppliers."
Jane
Dagg, Deputy Director of Development for The Shaw Festival,
led a discussion between the group and a representative
from a major corporate sponsor, Bell Canada. The sponsor
representative, Associate Director of Public Affairs
Ken Gingrich, explained to what a sponsor's needs and
expectations are.
Emily
Griffin, Senior V.P. of Arts & Communications, discussed
the importance of and how to develop long-term sponsorship
relationships. The session's moderator, Dory Vanderhoof
(Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates) concluded the
session with discussion about sponsorship problem solving
and held a brief question and answer session.
This
panel discussion featured Greg Boyd, Box Office Manager
for the Orlando Opera, and Lex Poppens, Director of
Marketing & Communications for Ruth Eckerd Hall
(Clearwater, FL). The session was moderated by Margaret
Genovese of GenoveseVanderhoof & Associates.
The
workshop covered how to set up and operate a full-service
box office, how to make the box office a part of the
fund raising team, and the benefits of using technology
and the internet in the box office.
This
day-long seminar led by Janis Barlow of Janis Barlow
& Associates, focused on board development for historic
theatres, modern theatres and other nonprofit performing
arts programs. Specifically, attendees learned how to
understand the roles, responsibilities and objectives
of the board, how to conscript board members, i.e.,
how to assess leadership qualities, qualifications and
skill sets, and how to evaluate board performance and
introducing motivational techniques.
Dory
Vanderhoof of Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates led
this day-and-a-half workshop detailing the process involved
with developing a successful capital campaign. Topics
included: how to develop a strong case for support;
how to identify prospects willing to contribute to the
case; how to solicit leadership willing to solicit contributions;
and, how to find and use the right resources to make
the campaign a success.
