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Running a Theatre?
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Running a Theatre?
Hello!?
I am looking for fellow union professionals who are also responsible for running/booking an on-campus theatre.
In 1951, Shippensburg University(approx. 5000 student pop) opened a large 650 seat theatre/auditorium. For years it was the school’s home for music/theatre arts. In the early 2000s, the university opened a large 1400 seat performing arts center which rehoused the music/theatre arts departments, and became the region’s home for community arts programming, bringing in tours and shows.
The original theatre became the home to student organizations & other groups to put on dance shows, theatrical performances, step shows, hypnotists, and more. We do not bill internal or student groups for rental time or staffing, just external rentals. The building operation is housed under student affairs and falls under my direction(by myself).
If anyone is in a similar situation as I am, I am looking for insight into how you may be fairing off in this way and generating revenue. I’d love to connect more on this. Thanks!
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Travis Houtz
Associate Director, Ceddia Union Building
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg PA
(717) 477-1560
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2 Replies
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Hi Travis,
At the Lory Student Center, we have a 500 seat theater and have had a similar history.? Our theater was used by the community and music/theater/dance programs until the university built a new performing arts center.? Now we primarily host student org events and department lectures/films.? We have always billed all groups for usage using a tiered rate structure.? Our charges include room, technical support labor, and equipment.? Happy to chat more if you would like!?
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Jason Rogien
Director, Event Services
Colorado State University
Fort Collins CO
(970) 491-8728
Jason.Rogien@colostate.edu
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-09-2024 16:54
From: Travis Houtz
Subject: Running a Theatre?Hello!
I am looking for fellow union professionals who are also responsible for running/booking an on-campus theatre.
In 1951, Shippensburg University(approx. 5000 student pop) opened a large 650 seat theatre/auditorium. For years it was the school’s home for music/theatre arts. In the early 2000s, the university opened a large 1400 seat performing arts center which rehoused the music/theatre arts departments, and became the region’s home for community arts programming, bringing in tours and shows.
The original theatre became the home to student organizations & other groups to put on dance shows, theatrical performances, step shows, hypnotists, and more. We do not bill internal or student groups for rental time or staffing, just external rentals. The building operation is housed under student affairs and falls under my direction(by myself).
If anyone is in a similar situation as I am, I am looking for insight into how you may be fairing off in this way and generating revenue. I’d love to connect more on this. Thanks!
——————————
Travis Houtz
Associate Director, Ceddia Union Building
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg PA
(717) 477-1560
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Hey Travis,
Our story involves a movie theatre in our community centre. The approximately 400 seat venue was used for over two decades screening “second run” films — our license allowed us to show most new movies a few weeks after they premiered. We began experiencing some declining revenue / attendance as movies moved more quickly from theatres to the streaming services, but being closed due to Covid forced us to re-evaluate how we were using the space.?
In the short term, we stopped showing movies every night, and have been promoting it as a bookable space for student organizations. We still have a license to show movies, and it is often used for this, but also for large meetings, speakers and presentations. It is one of the few spaces that we do charge student groups to book, mostly because it requires significant tech support. Adjacent to one of our bars, it is also a licensed space, and has a dedicated concession stand.
We still use it ourselves on occassion — leading up to Halloween we are featuring classic scary movies every Thursday night!
You can read about the space at https://westernusc.ca/services/reservations/spaces/mckellar-room/ and I’m happy to chat more if you have questions.
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Geoff Pimlatt
Senior Manager, Information System
University Students’ Council
University of Western Ontario
London ON
(519) 661-3574
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-09-2024 16:54
From: Travis Houtz
Subject: Running a Theatre?Hello!
I am looking for fellow union professionals who are also responsible for running/booking an on-campus theatre.
In 1951, Shippensburg University(approx. 5000 student pop) opened a large 650 seat theatre/auditorium. For years it was the school’s home for music/theatre arts. In the early 2000s, the university opened a large 1400 seat performing arts center which rehoused the music/theatre arts departments, and became the region’s home for community arts programming, bringing in tours and shows.
The original theatre became the home to student organizations & other groups to put on dance shows, theatrical performances, step shows, hypnotists, and more. We do not bill internal or student groups for rental time or staffing, just external rentals. The building operation is housed under student affairs and falls under my direction(by myself).
If anyone is in a similar situation as I am, I am looking for insight into how you may be fairing off in this way and generating revenue. I’d love to connect more on this. Thanks!
——————————
Travis Houtz
Associate Director, Ceddia Union Building
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg PA
(717) 477-1560
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