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awards program
education
EmCi digital cinema
hist theatre financing fund
insurance prog
par
publications
rescue/rehab manual
state colleagues
theatre inventory
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Purpose of the Program
One of LHAT's most important services is offering education to those involved in the historic theatre field. Whether you are just getting started in the theatre restoration process or have completed restoration and are now operating, there are unique challenges associated with historic theatres that all must face. Interacting with experts in the field is one of the best ways to learn how to proceed successfully through the restoration process and operate profitably thereafter.
In addition to the extensive education program offered during our Annual Conference, LHAT offers two or more educational seminars each year. The workshops are held in different locations around the country and address relevant topics, such as board development and fund raising techniques.
If you have any suggestions for topics you would like you see us cover, are interested in becoming a presenter, or in sponsorship opportunities associated with the stand-alone seminars, please contact the LHAT staff.
LHAT just concluded its first 2008 professional development offering: Historic Theatres in Small Communities: Catalysts for Economic Revitalization in Newberry, SC ... read more.
Just Announced: The 2008 Annual Conference Education Program: Tools & Techniques sessions, Fox Labs, Pre-Conference Seminar & Workshop ...read more.
Next Up: A new historic theatre forum, Successful Film Programming for Historic Theatres, will be held November 2-4, 2008 at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, MI. Details about this program will be posted and registration will open later this spring. Please check back.
Read about past LHAT Educational Offerings
PAST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
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.
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