National Conference

About the National Conference & Theatre Tour

The League's annual conference is the largest annual gathering of historic theatre professionals, community leaders, and service providers and suppliers, attracting participants from across the U.S. and Canada for idea sharing and network building. Professionals, volunteers and devotees join together for four days of networking and peer information exchange, tools & techniques sessions, and tours of local historic theatres, plus events, banquets and receptions.

By defining our field, creating a shared vocabulary and identifying best practices, the educational components of the League's annual conference strengthen efforts to sustain historic theatres of various sizes, operating structures and programming philosophies. During theatre tours, docents emphasize how each venue has dealt with the specific challenges of sustaining their operations to serve their communities, now and in the future. The conference takes place in different locations across North America each year.

With more than 300 attendees from across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, LHAT's 2022 National Conference, our first in-person event since 2019, was a great success! Represented were more than 200 historic theatre owners, operators, volunteers and aficionados, along with 85 service providers and suppliers who are experts in our field.

In the heart of Cleveland's Playhouse Square Arts District, the League offered four days of professional development, networking, theatre tours and more. More than 25 hours of Education Sessions highlighted best practices in historic theatre operations, film programming, fundraising, marketing, renovation, restoration, special events, insurance and ADA accessibility. Cleveland's Karamu House also presented special programming focused on social justice and equality.

More than 75 people kicked off the conference on the ever-popular Pre-Conference Historic Theatre Ramble, visiting the Akron Civic Theatre, Variety Theatre, Maltz Performing Arts Center, Karamu House, and the Hanna Theatre. During the conference, attendees were treated to tours of Playhouse Square's Mimi Ohio, KeyBank State, Connor Palace, and Allen Theatres. On the final day, we traveled to Gordon Square for tours of the Capitol and Gordon Square Theatres, followed by a presentation about the development of their important Arts District.

Attendees celebrated excellence in the field at the 2022 Awards Ceremony and 31 exhibitors shared their products, services and expertise at the annual Meet the Services Providers EXPO. Attendees met, mingled and networked during multiple networking and social events.

Special thanks to all of our National Partners and 2022 Conference Sponsors, plus our local hosts, especially Playhouse Square and Karamu House. Because of their generous support, the LHAT National Conference continues to be the largest and most important gathering specifically designed for historic theatre professionals in the nation!