Proposal to Infinity TrustThe Huron Playhouse: Season 65

The

HuronPlayhouse

REQUEST FOR FUNDING

Funding Organization: Infinity TrustApplicant Organization: The Huron Playhouse, Inc.Project Name: 65th Summer SeasonRequested Amount: $15,000EIN: 27-3308214

President of the Board: Robert Smith 419-433-4744 info@huronplayhouse.org

Grant Contact Person: Kayla Boye330-647-9383 kaylaboye@aol.com

The Huron Playhouse, Inc.Southport Professional Building

304 Williams St., Suite FHuron, Ohio 44839

www.huronplayhouse.org

Signature Date

December 6, 2012

Proposal to Infinity TrustThe Huron Playhouse: Season 65

Organizational Summary 1

Project Summary 2

Project Benefits 3

Project Evaluation 4

Project Timetable 4

Budget Narrative 5

Project Budget 6

Table of Contents

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Proposal to Infinity TrustThe Huron Playhouse: Season 65

ORGANIZATIONAL SUMMARYMISSIONThe mission of The Huron Playhouse is to educate and enlighten youth and adults about all aspects of theater performance and operations, and to entertain the residents of and visitors to our surrounding communities.

HISTORY The Huron Playhouse, Ohio’s oldest ongoing summer theater, was founded in 1949 by Dr. Frederick G. Walsh, professor at Bowling Green State University. At the time of the theater’s founding, Dr. Walsh met with Huron Schools Superintendent R.L. McCormick, who offered the use of McCormick Middle School as a performance space. The curtain rose on the first Playhouse production on June 29, 1949, with Norman Krasna’s wartime comedy John Loves Mary. Since its creation, the Playhouse has continued its affiliation with Huron Schools and still maintains use of the McCormick performance space today.

Faced with state fiscal cuts, BGSU was forced to withdraw its financial support of the Playhouse in 2010, although the university remains an advocate for the mission and activities of the Playhouse. At that time, the theater gained official, independent status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, The Huron Playhouse, Inc.. Since its incorporation into a nonprofit organization, The Huron Playhouse has experienced success through continued community support and recognition of its educational and artistic endeavors.

The Playhouse has remained a cultural staple for residents and visitors to the Sandusky area for the past 65 years, producing a variety of comedies, dramas, mysteries, Shakespeare, children’s theatre, and musicals. Hundreds of student actors and technicians have launched their professional careers from summers at the Playhouse, which teach company members the necessary skills and disciplines for success in the field. Summers at the Playhouse cultivate lifelong relationships as company members form lasting bonds with the Playhouse family and the Huron community.

Project Narrative

Season 64 company and staff. 1

Proposal to Infinity TrustThe Huron Playhouse: Season 65PROJECT SUMMARY The Playhouse summer season features five, full-scale productions brought to life by our resident acting and technical company. Over an eight week period, company members and administrative staff coexist in a family atmosphere, living together, learning together, and working together. Company members are exposed to all facets of the production process and apply lessons learned to daily life. A season at The Huron Playhouse provides an invaluable life experience to company members while providing cultural enjoyment for audiences.

For its 65th season, the Playhouse has proposed the following five productions, each enjoying a five-night run:

*Playhouse debut**Playhouse revival

Music by Stephen FlahertyLyrics by Lynn Ahrens

Book by Flaherty and AhrensBased on the works of Dr. Seuss

SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL* LEND ME A TENOR**

Music by John KanderLyrics by Fred Ebb

Book by Fred Ebb and Bob FosseBased on the play, Chicago, by Maurine Dallas Watkins

CHICAGO*

Comedy By Neil Simon

GOD’S FAVORITE*

Music by Richard Rodgers Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein

Book by Rodgers and Hammerstein Based on the play, Green Grow the Lilacs, by Lynn Riggs

OKLAHOMA!**

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FarceBy Ken Ludwig

Proposal to Infinity TrustThe Huron Playhouse: Season 65PROJECT BENEFITSGOALSWhile the Playhouse’s immediate focus is on ensuring the successful artistic and commercial success of a 65th summer season, we have several long-term goals: • To strengthen our relationship with the community by engaging in meaningful special events and com-

munity outreach. Possible activities, occurring during the season and throughout the year, would include festival and parade appearances, cabaret offerings, and holiday caroling.

• To begin a community workshop effort taught by company members, offering a unique learning experience for youth and adult participants. Possible sessions would include acting basics, improvisational fun, and various dance styles.

• To explore the possibility of becoming an Actors’ Equity house, offering professional contracts to guest art-ists and Equity Candidacy points to company members wishing to join the professional actors’ union.

COMMUNITY IMPACTAside from offering quality entertainment and tourism benefits to the surrounding community, Playhouse shows allow community members to refine and display their own talents. Every year, community members are invited to audition and participate in the summer season; these “townies” complete the casts of large production shows and add special value to the seasonal offerings. Last year’s productions of Bye Bye Birdie and Carousel featured the presence of 25 children and adults from the Huron community, in addition to the resident acting company. Seussical the Musical, based on the works of Dr. Seuss, would draw large audiences of families. Youth and adults alike can appreciate the musicalized life lessons of the famed children’s author. The show provides ample opportunities for local children and adults to be featured in the cast; we expect an even larger amount of community cast members to appear in Seussical than did in Birdie and Carousel.

SCOPE OF SERVICESPlayhouse productions draw audiences from across the country and throughout the state of Ohio. Most of our audience base heralds from Erie and Huron counties, in particular, the communities of Huron, Norwalk, Vermillion, Sandusky, and Berlin Heights.

Last year’s season was a success due to the contributions from the following valued sources: • A staff of 70 members (including administrative team and company members)• A volunteer base of 100 dedicated individuals• An audience of nearly 10,000 patrons

In its 65th year, the Playhouse hopes to maintain current staff numbers while expanding on a dedicated volunteer base and reaching past the 10,000 threshold of audience members.

Community children performing in Carousel.

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Proposal to Infinity TrustThe Huron Playhouse: Season 65PROJECT EVALUATIONOUTCOMEThe ideal successful summer season will demonstrate artistic and educational growth for company and community members. MEASUREMENTTo determine the value of the experience among company members, a two-fold interview process will occur at the beginning and conclusion of the summer season. Company members will provide expectations and personal learning goals; at the end of their time at the Playhouse, they will be asked how the season met or exceeded these expectations. Company members will have the opportunity to suggest improvements to current operational procedures.

The commercial success of the season will be primarily determined by volume of ticket sales and public feed-back. As previously stated, the 65th season aims for audience levels above 10,000 patrons. Post-performance commentary and published reviews will reflect audience satisfaction.

To determine the economic impact of visiting audiences during the 65th season, the Playhouse plans to conduct a joint study with the Huron Chamber of Commerce. This will be the first study in Playhouse history to measure the Playhouse’s impact on local tourism.

PROJECT TIMETABLEFrom company move-in until final strike, the Playhouse experiences constant activity. Company members divide their days into three shifts: morning, afternoon, and evening; these shifts are devoted to rehearsals and work sessions. Due to fast production turn-over, at least two productions are in rehearsal each week. Season 65 will adhere to the following schedule:

PRE-SEASONFebruary 2: Company Auditions and InterviewsMarch 1: Casting OfferingsApril 1: Casting Completion

IN-SEASONJune 10: Company Move-InJune 24-June 29: Seussical the Musical July 1-6: Lend Me a TenorJuly 8-13: ChicagoJuly 15-20: God’s FavoriteJuly 22-27: Oklahoma! July 27-28: Final Strike and Company Move-Out

Company members performing in Bye Bye Birdie.

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Proposal to Infinity TrustThe Huron Playhouse: Season 65BUDGET NARRATIVEAs the Playhouse pursues a capital campaign, special events, and corporate sponsorships to support operational costs, we seek foundational support to underwrite the costs of individual productions. Funding from Infinity Trust would support production costs of the season opener, Seussical the Musical.

Funding from Infinity Trust would cover the following costs associated with Seussical:• Production rights and royalties from Music Theatre International (MTI): $8,000• Set design and construction materials: $2,000 • Costume design and construction materials: $2,000• Sound design and equipment: $1,000• Rental materials from MTI: $1,000• Props construction and rental: $500• Lighting design and construction materials: $500

Total budgeted expenses: $15,000

Any additional expenses, including salaries and other forms of compensation, are considered Playhouse operational expenses and would not be included in grant funding (see Project Budget Form).

Company members performing in The Drowsy Chaperone. 5

Company members speak with Playhouse supporters during a donor appreciation event at Paper Moon Winery.

Proposal to Infinity TrustThe Huron Playhouse: Season 65

Revenue Committed Funds Requested or Pending Funds

1. Grants and ContributionsThe Mylander Foundation $3,000The Frost-Parker Foundation $50,000The Randolph J. and Estelle M. Dorn Foundation $50,000Capital Campaign $30,000Special Events $40,000Corporate Gifts $30,000

2. Earned IncomePre-Season Ticket Sales $25,000

3. OtherProjected Ticket Sales $100,000Projected Advertisment Sales $15,000

TOTAL $28,000 $315,000

TOTAL REVENUE (Committed + Requested Funding) $343,000

Expense Amount Requested in

Proposal

Total Project Expense

Production Expenses $15,000 $60,000Salaries and Other Wages $150,000Payroll Taxes $10,000Legal $1,500Accounting $150Advertising and Promotion $14,000Printing $10,000Outside Contractors $12,000Meals $16,000Office $1,600Insurance $1,500Rent $20,000Travel $5,300Occupancy $20,000Other Expenses $20,000

TOTAL EXPENSE $15,000 $342,050

PROJECT BUDGET

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Proposed Budget: 65th Season

Proposal to Infinity TrustThe Huron Playhouse: Season 65