Developing the Nonprofit Theatre: Building a Foundation for the Emerging Theatre Company

<p> This paper aims to guide entrepreneurial theatre artists in beginning a nonprofit theatre arts venture. It will provide an in-depth analysis of the foundations required to begin a nonprofit theatre organization and analyze the need for expanding upon traditional structures and styles. Incorporating evidence and research from relevant literature, coursework, and market data as well as analysis of a strategic plan for The Common Theatre Company, this paper finds that non-profit theatre companies can be positively served by developing unique products and services and a nontraditional governance model as an extension of the foundational needs of a nonprofit organization. The traditional theatre venture generally includes a mission revolving around production content, follows a basic season, exclusively offers plays or musicals in its programming, and is governed by a top-down Board of Directors structure. The Common Theatre Company represents a new approach to this typical model offering diverse programming, a unique community partnership angle, and a collaborative governance structure. In a market geared toward non-arts industries that finds audiences across sectors overstimulated and oversaturated, small nonprofit theatres need more resources geared toward them. This paper is meant to serve as a blueprint for the emerging theatre company and a guide to finding unique ways to stand out in any market.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Interdisciplinary Studies

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Multi-Disciplinary Program

Year dc:date.available

2023

Author dc:creator

• McMillan, Kelsey

Contributors dc:contributor

• Scott Shattuck M.F.A.
• Anne Smith Ph.D.
• Cindy Davis Ph.D.

• Theatre
• Theater
• Strategic Plan
• Nonprofit
• Business Plan
• Arts
• Entrepreneur
• Governance
• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
• Nonprofit Administration and Management
• Other Theatre and Performance Studies

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/510

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.sfasu.edu:etds-1546