Spring Conference 2016
Join us in Dallas, TX for an in-depth look at the challenges facing musical theatre marketers in 2016 and the tools you can use to meet them. Topics will include the state of subscriptions, best practices for data management and CRM, strategies for branding and selling your theatre as a destination, and more. We’ll hear from other Dallas arts organizations and businesses about what drives them to buy — and to come back. Through expert speakers, case studies, panel discussions and group brainstorming, we’ll give you concrete ideas you can take home to your theatres and implement right away. NAMT’s conferences are known for their energy and intimacy, and for giving attendees plenty of opportunities to network with new friends and old.
The Conference will be hosted by Dallas Theater Center at their state-of-the-art Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre and Dallas Summer Musicals at the historic Music Hall at Fair Park, along with Uptown Players, who invite attendees to their opening night at the Kalita Humphreys Theater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. This is an amazing opportunity to visit and learn from NAMT’s Dallas members.
Who Should Attend The Conference
Executive management, artistic directors, marketing directors and staff, board members and anyone at your theatre involved with marketing and audience development. NAMT conferences can be a great perk for engaged donors who are interested in learning more about how things work behind the scenes! All employees of a member organization are NAMT members!
Conference Program
Your Spring Conference registration will include:
- Two full days of panels, speakers, sessions, brainstorming and networking!
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch and breaks are included on both conference days.
- Networking Events
- Kick-off cocktail party on Thursday, March 31
- Opening night reception at Uptown Players on Friday, April 1
- Performance at a NAMT Member Theatre
- Tickets to the opening night performance Uptown Players’ regional premiere production of End of the Rainbow
Registration, Rates and Deadlines
- The NAMT Spring Conference is open to NAMT members in good standing and invited guests. If you are not a NAMT member (or are unsure of your membership status) and would like to attend the Spring Conference, please email Membership Director Adam Grosswirth or call (212) 714-6668 x15.
- The more people you bring, the more you save!
- Member registration rates are $605 – $530 per person.
- Additional options are available for single day rates, Associate Members and invited non-members.
- (Early registration discounts ended on February 22.)
Accommodations
Our discounted rate at the Magnolia Hotel expired on March 11, however you may check the Magnolia directly for availability, or search for nearby hotels that may have availability here.
Thanks To Our Sponsors
We are very grateful to the sponsors and exhibitors of the 2016 Spring Conference. Learn more about supporting NAMT and the benefits of sponsoring or exhibiting at our events.
Sponsor or Exhibit at the ConferenceEducational Resources Committee
Phil Santora, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley (CA), Chair
Michael Ballam, Utah Festival Opera Company (UT)
Wayne Bryan, Music Theatre Wichita (KS)
Kathy Evans, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat (NY)
Mark Fleischer, Pittsburgh CLO (PA)
Donna Lynn Hilton, Goodspeed Musicals (CT)
Spring Conference 2016 Committee
Steven Box, The Human Race Theatre Company (OH)
Paulette Hopkins, Dallas Summer Musicals (TX)
Tony Joy, Dallas Summer Musicals (TX)
Darcy Koch, Dallas Theater Center (TX)
Greg Patterson, WaterTower Theatre (TX)
Brad Pritchett, Dallas Theater Center (TX)
Jeff Rane, Uptown Players (TX)
Steve Tate, Atlantic Theater Company (NY)
Nena Theis, North Carolina Theatre (NC)
Agenda
Thursday, March 31, 2016 (All times CT)
6:00 - 8:00 pm | Kick-Off Cocktail Party The Tower Club Join us for drinks and hors d’oeuvres with your colleagues as our hosts welcome us to Dallas! This networking event is part of the conference and included with your full or Friday-only registration. Sponsored by Dallas Summer Musicals |
Friday, April 1, 2016 (All times CT)
8:00 - 9:00 am | Networking Continental Breakfast Magnolia Hotel Sponsored by Dallas Theater Center |
9:00 am | Bus to Dallas Theater Center Magnolia Hotel |
9:30 - 10:15 am | Welcome Remarks and 30-Second Success Stories Dallas Theater Center Potter Rose Performance Hall |
10:15 - 11:15 am | Keynote Speech: "The Intersection Between Always and Never" Potter Rose Performance Hall Margie Johnson Reese is an arts advocate with wide-ranging experience in Dallas, nationally and abroad. She will speak on her vision for eliminating barriers to creative expression, arts innovation, and changes taking place on the national level. Reese is currently Executive Director for the newly created Wichita Falls (TX) Alliance for Arts and Culture. Previously, she was Vice President for Programs at Big Thought, where she leveraged public and private sector resources to provide arts education experiences for children and their families; Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs for the City of Dallas; General Manager for the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; and advanced cultural projects in West Africa for the Ford Foundation. |
11:15 - 11:45 am | Networking Coffee Break Wyly Theatre Lobby |
11:45 am - 12:00 pm | A Word From Our Sponsor: Theatrical Rights Worldwide Potter Rose Performance Hall |
12:00 - 1:00 pm | It's Still All About The Patron Potter Rose Performance Hall At last year’s Spring Conference on fundraising, we discussed the fact that most patrons don’t see your theatre as a collection of departments, simply as a theatre. The same principle applies to marketing and audience development. How can your whole organization work together to get people in the door and keep them there? Where do the lines get drawn when something falls into multiple jurisdictions, like community engagement? Moderated by Phil Santora (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley), with Angela Cassette (Music Theatre Wichita), Cheryl Farley (Ogunquit Playhouse), Darcy Koch (Dallas Theater Center) and Greg Patterson (WaterTower Theatre). |
1:00 - 2:30 pm | Lunch Wyly Theatre Lobby Sponsored by R&H Theatricals |
2:30 - 2:45 pm | Dallas Theater Center Tours |
2:45 - 3:45 pm | Concurrent Breakout Sessions Concurrent breakout sessions. Marketing and Community Outreach The Culture of Discounting Collaborating With Other Institutions Marketing on a Budget |
3:45 - 4:45 pm | Making the Most of Your Data Potter Rose Performance Hall We all know how powerful and useful data can be — and also how easy it can be to get buried under it. As technology and tools evolve, how is your organization keeping up and using information to better serve your customers and find new ones? How can theatres pay for new systems and the people to run them? Moderated by Buck Mason (McCoy Rigby Entertainment), with Drew Francis (Red Mountain Theatre Company), Shyam Oberoi (Dallas Museum of Art), Maura Sheffler (The Arts Community Alliance) and Zannie Voss (National Center for Arts Research). |
4:45 - 5:30 pm | Drill-Down Breakout Sessions We’ll break into groups for further discussion of each of today’s topics. Pick the one that most interested you or that you want to learn more about. It’s All About The Patron Making The Most of Your Data |
5:30 pm | Bus to Uptown Buses will drop those attending End of the Rainbow at the Kalita Humphreys Theatre prior to the show for dinner on your own. It is a short walk to a wide variety of restaurants (directions and recommendations will be in your conference packets). |
8:00 pm | End of the Rainbow Uptown Players Uptown Players invites us to the opening night of their regional premiere production of End of the Rainbow. Written by Peter Quilter, End of the Rainbow is a musical drama of Judy Garland’s “comeback” concerts during December 1968. With a six week booking at London’s Talk of the Town, it looks like Judy Garland is set firmly on the comeback trail. The failed marriages, the suicide attempts and the addictions are all behind her. At 46-years old and with new flame Mickey Deans at her side, she seems determined to carry it off and recapture her magic. But lasting happiness always eludes some people, and there was never any answer to the question with which Judy ended every show: “If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh, why, can’t I?” End of the Rainbow is a savagely funny drama featuring a glorious ensemble of Judy Garland hits and infused with the glamour and the melancholy of stardom. This production will star Janelle Lutz (The Boy from Oz) as Judy Garland. This event is part of the conference and included with your full or Friday-only registration, though registration is required when you register for the conference to guarantee tickets. |
10:30 pm | Uptown Players Opening Night Reception Uptown Players Sponsored by Uptown Players Transportation will be provided from the theatre back to the Magnolia Hotel in at least two shifts, following the performance and later in the evening for those who wish to stay for the reception. |
Saturday, April 2, 2016 (All times CT)
8:00 - 9:00 am | Networking Continental Breakfast Magnolia Hotel Sponsored by The Hollywood Pantages |
9:00 am | Bus to Dallas Summer Musicals Magnolia Hotel |
9:30 - 10:30 am | Making Your Theatre The Attraction Dallas Summer Musicals M Dining Shows come and go, but your theatre is constant. How do you make it the star? More importantly, how do you position theatre as a thing to do on par with other attractions in your area, with people who may not know they love theatre yet? With Michael Ballam (Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre), Dan McMahon (Goodspeed Musicals) and Michael Murphy (The Old Globe). |
10:30 - 11:30 am | The State of Subscriptions M Dining For years we’ve been hearing that the subscription model is dying, but is it? What’s the current state of subscriptions among NAMT members? We’ll hear case studies from theatres with successful subscription programs and those who are trying new models. Moderated by Wayne Bryan (Music Theatre Wichita), with Robert Fleskes (Ticketmaster), Jeff Loeb (The Hollywood Pantages), Jeff Rane (Uptown Players) and Nena Theis (North Carolina Theatre). |
11:30 am - 12:00 pm | Networking Coffee Break Music Hall Center Foyer |
12:00 - 1:00 pm | Audience Loyalty and Retention: Customer Service and Beyond M Dining Getting new subscribers is just the beginning; how do we keep them? What about single ticket buyers? Are our theatres welcoming spaces? What do audiences really want and expect from us? With Lindsay Anderson (TRG Arts), Garrett Collins (Center Theatre Group), Brad Pritchett (Dallas Theater Center) and Danyel Siler (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma). |
1:00 - 2:30 pm | Lunch Dallas Summer Musicals Sponsored by Music Theatre International |
2:30 - 2:45 pm | Dallas Summer Musicals Tours |
2:45 - 3:45 pm | Old and New Ways of Creating Buzz M Dining How has the shifting media landscape affected your ability to get preview press, reviews and word-of-mouth? Have digital publications, content marketing and social media made up for the loss of print critics? Have your methods for reaching audiences evolved in recent years? Moderated by Kwofe Coleman (The MUNY), with Steven Box (The Human Race Theatre Company), David Dombrosky (InstantEncore), Amanda Farrow (Dallas Summer Musicals), Tony Joy (Dallas Summer Musicals) and Craig Lynch (Uptown Players). |
3:45 - 4:30 pm | Drill-Down Breakout Sessions We’ll break into groups for further discussion of each of today’s topics. Pick the one that most interested you or that you want to learn more about. Making Your Theatre The Attraction |
4:30 - 4:45 pm | Wrap-Up M Dining |
4:45 pm | Bus to Magnolia Hotel Transportation from Dallas Summer Musicals to the Magnolia Hotel. |
6:30 pm | Closing Dinner Iron Cactus If you’re staying in Dallas on Saturday night, join your colleagues and the NAMT staff for dinner for some final networking and socializing time before heading home. This is an add-on event for attendees who are staying this evening; you will be able to sign up and pay for dinner when you register for the Conference. (Iron Cactus is next door to the Magnolia Hotel.) |
As of 3/18/16. Subject to change.
Map, Dining & Attractions
The fare for Dallas’ DART light rail is $2.50. Tickets can be purchased at stations or using the GoPass iPhone or Android app. Buses to the trains at the airports are free.
Directions from Love Field to Magnolia Hotel
Public Transit:
about 35 minutes travel time
524 bus (inside airport) to Inwood/Love Field DART rail station
Green Line towards Buckner or Orange Line towards Parker Road to Akard Station
Walk about 4 minutes
Cab:
20-25 minutes travel time
approx. $21 fare
Directions from Dallas-Fort Worth Airport to Magnolia Hotel
Public Transit:
about an hour and 10 minutes travel time
Orange Line DART rail from DFW Station towards Parker Road to Akard Station
Walk about 4 minutes
Cab:
30-35 minutes travel time
$45 flat starting rate, up to $65 with traffic
We will provide transportation from the Magnolia Hotel to Dallas Theater Center on the mornings of Friday, April 1, and to Dallas Summer Musicals on Saturday, April 2. If you would like to join us later in the day, the hotel offers a courtesy shuttle you may take, or you may use Dallas’ light rail system. Dallas Theater Center is also very walkable.
Transit Directions from the Magnolia Hotel to Dallas Theater Center
Walk to Akard Station, around the corner from the hotel
Take the Green Line towards Bruckner, the Red Line towards Parker Road, the Blue Line towards Rowlett or the Orange Line towards LBJ to Pearl/Arts Center Station
About 15 minutes travel time
Transit Directions from the Magnolia Hotel to Dallas Summer Musicals
Walk to Akard Station, around the corner from the hotel
Take the Green Line towards Bruckner to Fair Park Station
About 20 minutes travel time
Attendees
Mandy Yiu
Executive Director
Victor Pang
Artistic Director
Chris Shum
Lyricist
Joyce Lee
Marketing Manager
Cynthia Wong
Composer
Tony Joy
Marketing & Patron Services Manager
Francisco Chairez
Public Relations Associate
Haley Harrington
Marketing & Customer Service Associate
Luke Sawyer
Concierge Manager
Paulette Hopkins
Director of Marketing
Michael Jenkins
President, Starlight Entertainment
Amanda Farrow
Marketing and Social Media Coordinator
Alan Anderson
Marketing Director
Sharon Maroney
Producing Artistic Director
Lizz Larsen
Director of Marketing
Garrett Collins
Senior Marketing Manager, Strategy & CRM
Mark Ciglar
CEO
Kevin Moriarty
Executive Director
Travis Ballenger
Associate Artistic Director
Darcy Wallace
Interim Director of Marketing & Communications
Brad Pritchett
Director of Marketing & Communications
Soren Moller
Artistic Director
Adam Andrusky
Director of Sales
Aaron Young
Managing Director
Eric Pugh
Director of Marketing and Communications
Donna Lynn Hilton
Artistic Director
Matt Tolbert
Dan McMahon
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
David Dombrosky
Chief Marketing Officer
Jake McIntyre
Account Executive
Matthew Sipress
Production/Company Manager
Michael Bratcher-Magallanez
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Catherine Warren
Director of Development
Danyel Siler
Director of Marketing
Allie Tabberer
Marketing Associate
Siobhan Morava
Development Officer
Carol Marquis
Director of Marketing and Communications
Curt Dale Clark
Artistic Director
Stephanie Dupal
Managing Director
Buck Mason
Margie Reese
Principal Consultant
Amanda Deely
Strategic Client Partner
Bridget McDonough
General Manager, retired
Richard Salfas
Vice President, International Licensing & Concert Presentations
Matthew Boethin
Professional Licensing Director, N. America
Angela Cassette
Managing Director
Wayne Bryan
Producing Director
Michael Betts
BO manager/Marketing Manager
Adam Grosswirth
Member Services Director
Jen Whitton
Development Associate
Betsy Militello
Executive Director
Karin Nilo
Program Manager
Nena Theis
Director Of Sales
Angela Grant
Director of Sales
Brad Kenney
Executive Artistic Director
Cheryl Farley
Director of Marketing and Communications
Robert Friend
Vice President, Nonprofit Sales
Van Kaplan
Drew Francis
Director of Operations
Keith Cromwell
Executive Director
Jon Moses
Managing Director, COO
Michelle Yaroshko
Senior Vice President, Professional Licensing (North America)
Dana Siegel
Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, Publishing
Amy Rose Marsh
VP, Acquisitions and Artistic Development (North America)
Mary Jane Avans
Vice President, Business Development
David Ciano
Account Executive
Wendy Gillespie
President & CEO
Bradley Lohrenz
Vice President Professional & International Licensing
Jeff Loeb
President
Steven Box
Director of Marketing and Communications
Denny Reagan
Consultant, Past President & CEO, The Muny
Kwofe Coleman
President & CEO
Michael Murphy
Chris Alleman
Producing Artistic Director
Joshua Blanchard
Executive Director
Phil Santora
Robert Fleskes
Client Development Director, Arts & Theatre
Lindsay Anderson
COO
Dyan Flores
Director of Professional and International Licensing
Sean Cercone
Founder/CEO
Jennifer Hunter
Artistic Director and Professor of Theatre
Phillip Hearne
Production Associate
Jeff Rane
Artistic Producer
Craig Lynch
Producer/Director of Marketing
Michael Ballam
Founding General Director
Diane Wright
Director of Finance
Jamie Lilly
Director of Marketing
Robb Hunt
Gregory Patterson
Managing Director
Terry Martin
Producing Artistic Director
Harriet Schlader
Producer/Executive Director
Robert Zingarelli
Business Development Manager
Kevin Longueil
Elisbeth Challener
Producer/Owner
Founding Executive Director
Commercial Producer
Materials
Download presentations from and articles discussed at the Spring Conference.
Audience Loyalty and Retention (PPT)
The State of Subscriptions, North Carolina Theatre (PPT)
Making Your Theatre The Destination, Goodspeed Musicals (PPT)
Old and New Ways of Creating Buzz, Dallas Summer Musicals (PPT) [Due to the size of this document, it is hosted on Dropbox, not namt.org. It should work but may cause errors for some users. Use the PDF below if you have problems.]
Old and New Ways of Creating Buzz, Dallas Summer Musicals (PDF)
Red Mountain Theatre’s staff and board post-show survey (XLS)
This page was last updated on 07/18/2020