(828) 526-0173 | [email protected] | Copyright 2024 – All Rights Reserved.
The Business of Theater
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: 2018/12 - December
Operating a theatre continuously for 80 years is not without its challenges.
There have been peaks and valleys, fat times and lean. Today, the Highlands Playhouse is alive and thriving, and it’s because of you, our faithful contributors. At the end of our 2018 season, the Playhouse officers and management analyzed finances and set goals for 2019.
Spending breaks down into several categories: first, modest summer salaries of staff, which include the full-time, year-round managing director, box office manager, part-time artistic director, and a few part-time office workers, ticket-sellers, and movie operators, accounting for 60 percent of the budget.
Since the Highlands Playhouse uses professional actors from around the country, housing our summer cast and crew averages $40,000. Air and ground transportation accounts for another $6,000. Add to that production costs, which are kept to a minimum (costumes, props, sets, etc.) while maintaining high quality, and you begin to see the full picture.
Facility costs include power, water/sewer, internet, software, etc. Our facility is owned by the Town of Highlands, which generously allots $5,000 to the Playhouse for building maintenance and upkeep…but this sum does not allow for much in the way of improvements.
In addition, royalties must be paid for all movies and plays. On average, royalties cost from $5,000 to $10,000 per show run. Sometimes half of the box office receipts go to music royalties alone, and 50 to 60 percent of film sales are common for a hit film.
As of yet, this tight budget doesn’t allow for a reserve fund, though this is our goal. Any shortfalls must be covered by the board’s quick strategizing.
Ken Proctor, whose accounting shows where donors’ generous contributions have gone, sums up his report by saying, “As can be seen, the costs of meeting the mission – to enrich the Western North Carolina community by providing live, professional theatrical and high-quality cinematic entertainment that enlightens, educates, and inspires – is not cheap. So please consider donating to the annual campaign for the 2019 season to support the mission. Contact us at the Highlands Playhouse at (828) 526-2695 to discuss the options and benefits of donating.”
Make believe. We make it, because you believe in us.
