Education

National Conference Education

Conference Education Session information is tentative, subject to change.

All events and Education Sessions presented at Omni William Penn Hotel unless otherwise indicated.

Updated 6.15.2025

The League's National Conference Education Program includes 30 Tools & Techniques sessions on restoration, fundraising, marketing, operations, facilities, ADA and film programming along with important case studies demonstrating best practices from around the nation, offering something for everyone.

On Sunday, back by popular demand, we will offer our annual "Early Bird Renovation 101" intensive session and a second session focused on Fundraising for those who can't wait to get started. Two segments of concurrent Tools & Techniques sessions will be offered on Monday, three more segments on Tuesday, and one on Wednesday.

Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC
Official Education Sponsor

Tools & Techniques

Concurrent Professional Development Sessions

Monday, July 21 - Wednesday, July 23 (times vary)

Facilitated discussions, workshops, panel discussions, and case studies provide real solutions to real problems. Tools & Techniques segments on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will offer best practices, emerging trends, and practical information for improving your historic theatre, your business, and your community.

Click where indicated to download the PDF for each specific Tools & Techniques Segment session details and speaker bios.


Monday, July 21

Tools & Techniques Segment 1

Click here to read details of all Segment 1 sessions

12:30pm - 1:45pm | 6 concurrent sessions

  • Clear Vision and Good Governance
  • From Catching the Car to Commanding the Stage: A Leadership Journey in Theater
  • Getting Ready to Get Ready: Preparing for a Fundraising Campaign
  • Historic Building Envelopes: How to Approach Maintenance + Repair + Restoration
  • Preventing Chargebacks, Hacker Attacks, and Identity Theft
  • Theatre’s New Act: How to Attract Younger Audiences to Your Venue
Tools & Techniques Segment 2

Click here to read details of all Segment 2 sessions

2:15pm - 3:30pm | 5 concurrent sessions

  • A Celebration of 30 Successful Years!
  • A Work in (Political) Progress: How to Ensure (Ongoing) Funding for your Theatre
  • From Bread to Broadway & Pews to Performances: Revitalizing Historic Spaces for the Arts
  • Movies are Medicine: Engaging Audiences & Unseen Benefits
  • The Show Starts on the Sidewalk, or How to Get People Out of the Street and Into Your Seats

Tuesday, July 22

Tools & Techniques Segment 3

Click here to read details of all Segment 3 sessions

9:15am - 10:30am | 5 concurrent sessions

  • Beyond the Ticket: How Theatre Marketing Must Evolve from Transactions to Transformative Experiences
  • From Restoration to Resilience: Sustaining Your Historic Theatre for the Future
  • Managing Your Theatre's Risk… and Other Insurance Issues
  • My Past Is Catching Up With Me:  Understanding the Newly Historic, Modern Theater
  • The Future-Proof Theatre: Leveraging Technology for Operational Efficiency
Tools & Techniques Segment 4

Click here to read details of all Segment 4 sessions

11:00am - 12:15pm | 5 concurrent sessions

  • ADA Planning for Your Historic Theater
  • Building a Strong Donor Pipeline: Strategies for Sustainable Fundraising
  • Cinematic Bragging Rights = Free Marketing
  • Marketing Insights for LHAT Executive and Artistic Leaders
  • Navigating Health Plans for Your Employee Benefit Package

Tuesday, July 22 (continued)

Tools & Techniques Segment 5

Click here to read details of all Segment 5 sessions

2:45pm - 4:00pm | 5 concurrent sessions

  • From Stage Lights to Search Engines: AI, SEO & Branding Secrets for a Full House
  • Preparing for Retirement:  From the Practical to the Mental and Emotional Transition
  • Upgrading Projection Systems in Historic Theatres: Lessons Learned from the Cabot, Colonial, and Belcourt Theatres
  • Whose Show is it Anyway? A Panel Discussion on Venue Rentals
  • You've Raised 80%, Now it's Time to "Go Public!"

Wednesday, July 23

Tools & Techniques Segment 6

Click here to read details of all Segment  sessions

9:45am - 11:00am | 4 concurrent sessions6

  • Beyond the Noise - Three Pillars that Drive Success
  • Orpheum Re-Imagined: Renovating a Historic Theatre Using Modern Technology to Create a ‘Show Before the Show’
  • Where the Cool Kids Hang Out: Building and Maintaining a Dependable Tech Crew
  • You are ALWAYS Fundraising. Building your Donor Pipeline from Annual Giving and Beyond

Early Bird Education Sessions

Download the Printable PDF

Sunday, July 20, 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm - Omni William Penn Hotel

This year, the League will offer two optional "Early Bird" education sessions prior to the official conference kickoff on Sunday evening.

There is no additional fee, but the Early Bird sessions will have a limited capacity so they are first come, first served, and will require advance registration. The Early Bird Sessions are included in the Full Conference Registration fee. If you want to attend but are not registering for the Full Conference, please contact LHAT to determine what the fee will be to attend (if any). Coffee, cold drinks and light snacks will be provided.

Click on the PDF link above to read the full session descriptions and get speaker information.

You will be able to add these sessions after you register if you are undecided at first.

Option 1 (Intensive): 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Back by popular demand...

Historic Theatre Renovation 101: A Framework for Planning Successful Projects 

Option 2   (Format and times still TBD - approx. 2pm - 4pm)

Building a Strong Donor Pipeline: Strategies for Sustainable Fundraising

     This session is now Full. Please email info@LHAT.org to be added to a waitlist.

Plenary Session: Behind the Scenes at the Pittsburgh Cultural District

Monday, July 21, 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Get ready for an unforgettable conversation with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust— powerhouse behind Pittsburgh’s vibrant Cultural District, home to four of Pittsburgh’s historic theatres! Join Nick Gigante, Chief Development Officer, and Joanna Obuzor, Vice President of Venue Operations, of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, for an engaging discussion on their exciting projects, the challenges they’ve overcome, how they continue to deliver on their mission and how they've kept the community entertained, inspired, and invested for over four decades! (An additional presenter may be added.)

Click here to view full session description and speaker information.

Facilitated Networking Sessions

Monday, July 21, 10:15 am - 11:15 am
Tuesday, July 22, 4:15 pm - 5:15 pm

We'll kick off the first full day of the conference by doing what LHAT does best: sharing best practices from around the nation. We learned during the pandemic that LHAT Happy Hours were a great way for members to stay connected and hear what others were doing to remain relevant in their communities. We started a live version of this type of “informal” networking at the past two conferences and received rave reviews, so we're building in even more time for this type of networking in Pittsburgh.

We'll begin the first discussion as one large group, then divide into 4-5 smaller groups based on programming type and theatre size so you can take a deep dive into any topic desired. Share things you have learned since the Milwaukee conference or ask questions about topics that are most important to your theatre's future success. Think of it as an in-person LHAT-CHAT Network!

Tuesday afternoon, we'll gather again for more networking using the same format, but this time, we'll break into smaller groups based on different topics or demographics than the day before. We want to make sure you get the chance to connect with as many different peers as possible to share experiences and ask for advice. There's no better opportunity for you to tap into the League's “Brain Trust.” Whether you're a first-time attendee, new to the historic theatre field, or have been at your theatre for many years, there's always something new you can learn to improve your theatre, solve a problem, or make your job easier so you don't have to “reinvent the proverbial wheel.”

Theatre Tours

Sunday, July 20, Monday, July 21, & Wednesday, July 22 (subject to change)

Pre-Conference Historic Theatre Ramble (Optional)

Sorry! The Ramble SOLD OUT in the first three days! We have started a waiting list in case anyone cancels. Please email info@lhat.org to be added to the list.

Sunday, July 20, 8:15 am - 5:15 pm

Optional Activity - Additional Fee Required, Limited capacity - Includes continental breakfast and lunch

Theatres to be toured will include: (additional theatres will be posted when confirmed)

 In-Conference Theatre Tours

Tuesday, July 22, 1:45 pm

Wednesday, July 23, 11:20 am

Eye Opener Breakfasts: Peer Discussions and Networking

Monday, July 21, Tuesday, July 22, & Wednesday, July 23 (times vary) - Omni William Penn Hotel

Seek advice from your LHAT colleagues and share experiences in historic theatre operations, programming, management and facilities development through highly interactive information exchanges every morning during the conference. A favorite of LHAT conferences, this networking breakfast introduces you to valuable resources within the League's network.

Resource Area - Historic Theatre Information Exchange

Open Sunday afternoon, all day Monday & Tuesday - Omni William Penn Hotel

The LHAT Conference is the nation's largest annual gathering of historic theatre professionals because it's all about peer information exchange. To enhance that experience, we need your help.

Please bring copies of any materials from your theatre that you think a fellow attendee might find valuable -- anything they can look at (or even better -- take home) to add to what they learned during conference sessions and peer networking. We want attendees to leave re-energized, with all kinds of tools and ideas that they can share with their staff and board members back home that will help them forge ahead and plan for the success of their historic theatres.

What to bring

Capital and Annual Campaign Flyers • Volunteer Training Guidelines • Front of House Manuals • Employee Manuals • Emergency & Preparedness Plans / Safety Handbooks • Patron Code of Conduct • Sample Patron Incident Forms • Rental Rates / Sample Rental Agreements & Guidelines • Tech Sheets • Economic Impact and Feasibility Studies • Sample RFPs for Services • Sponsorship and Membership Brochures • Sample Offer & Venue Contract Riders • Season Brochures and Programs