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.

GRAND STRATEGIES: SURVIVING AND THRIVING

April 18-20, 2010 | Galveston, Texas

Plan a “spring break” to Galveston, Texas and join other historic theatre colleagues in discussing survival strategies in response to natural disasters and the current global economic crisis. Learn first-hand from Galveston community and cultural tourism leaders and the staff of The Grand 1894 Opera House, one of few historic theatres that have successfully survived the ravages of time, Mother Nature and economic pressures. The forum will use their experience as a lens for investigating...

Why is your theatre's survival critical to your community and its recovery from a natural disaster or the current global economic crisis?

WHERE: The Grand 1894 Opera House 2020 Postoffice Street Galveston Island, TX 77550

• Visit a historic theatre and community transformed; learn first-hand from their experience.
• Engage local leaders, hurricane recovery teams and cultural tourism experts.
• Network with historic theatre colleagues from across the U.S and Canada.
• Identify tools and techniques for ensuring the survival and success of your historic theatre.
• Develop strategies for sustaining your historic theatre.

This forum is being presented in partnership with:

PAST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

It Takes A Village
October 2009 - Proctors, Schenectady, NY

On October 18-20, LHAT offered a new historic theatre forum, It Takes a Village, which used the experiences of our hosts, Proctors, and Schenectady, NY as a lens for investigating the complicated and inter-connected work of community and cultural development.

More than 35 owners, operators, staff members, and community leaders representing 16 different historic theatres from Florida to Oregon participated in the forum. During facilitated discussions, a meet & greet, a board and volunteer reception, a networking luncheon and an extensive tour of all the Proctors facilities, participants exchanged information and ideas about how historic theatres can play a leading role in downtown revitalization and how they can successfully engage and serve their communities.

Special thanks to our host theatre:

• Philip Morris
• Duncan Webb
• Lionel Barthold
• Judie Bouchard
• Rick Carlstrom
• Kathleen Cetnar
• John Faust
• Ray Gillen
• Frank Gilmore
• Dan Hanifin
• Paul Kazee
• Kate Kosineski
• Cindy Laroe
• Tony Mashuta
• Keith Schmitt
• Dan Sheehan

It Takes a Village was presented in part thanks to our Strategic Partner:

Film Exhibition in the 21^st Century: A Programming Forum for Historic Theatres
November 2008 - Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, Michigan

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

Historic Theatres in Small Communities: Catalysts for Economic Revitalization
April 2008 – Newberry Opera House & Firehouse Conference Center, Newberry, South Carolina

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

CURTAINS UP! Restoring Historic Theatres and Revitalizing Communities
November 2007 - Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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:

• Wisconsin Historical Society - Division of Historic Preservation - Public History
• Arts Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Department of Commerce - Main Street

The event was generously underwritten by the Jeffris Family Foundation of Janesville, Wisconsin.

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

From Restoration to Operation: Leading a Historic Theatre's Successful Transition
April 2007 - Playhouse Square's Idea Center, Cleveland, Ohio

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:

Special Thanks to the Ohio Arts Council

Financing Historic Theatre Rehabilitation Projects
October 2006 - The Fabulous Fox Theatre - Atlanta, Georgia

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:

• Killis P. Almond, FAIA, RID – Killis P Almond & Associates – San Antonio, TX  
• Dennis Sankovich - Executive Director - Riley Center for Education & Performing Arts – Meridian, MS
• Kirk Carrison - National Trust Community Investment Corporation - Washington, DC
• John Vogt - Turnage Theaters Foundation - Washington, NC

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

Classic Hospitality: Improving Safety and Guest Services in Historic Theatres
April  2006 - Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College, Boston, MA

• 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
  

• Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College
• Wilson Butler Architects
• Broadway in Boston
• Martinez & Johnson / Architecture

Financing Historic Theatre Rehabilitation Projects
February 2006 – Los Angeles, CA

• 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  
  

• 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
  

Financing Historic Theatre Rehabilitation Projects
September 2005 - Concord, NH

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.

Financing Historic Theatre Rehabilitation Projects
May 2005 - Carlisle, PA

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:

• Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
• Pennsylvania Downtown Center
• National Trust for Historic Preservation

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

Financing Historic Theatre Rehabilitation Projects
November 2004 - Indianapolis, IN

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

Planning and Implementing Successful Annual and Capital Campaigns
February 2004 - Philadelphia, PA

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.

Cuba's People & Culture: A Study Program To Examine The Development & Restoration Of Havana's Public Theatres
July 27-31, 2003 - Havana, Cuba

Getting Money: Attracting Corporate Sponsors
May 2000 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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.

The Box Office: Ticketing, Public Relations & the Internet
January 2000 - Orlando, FL

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.

Your Board of Directors: Working to Save AND Operate a Historic Theatre
April 1999 - Philadelphia, PA

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.

Fund Raising: Developing a Capital Campaign
February 1999 - San Francisco, CA

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.