Spring Conference 2019
The 2019 Spring Conference was held in Seattle and Issaquah, WA on March 28-30, 2019, hosted by The 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre.
This year’s Conference focused on fundraising, looking at how everyone at your theatre — from Development to Marketing to Artistic to Front-of-House — has a vital role in telling your story effectively. We also discussed the latest trends in foundation and corporate giving, capital and endowment campaigns, new developments in data-driven fundraising, and more.
Our host theatres rolled out the red carpet for us with shows and networking receptions, plus a pre-Conference Racial Equity Institute.
Educational Resources Committee
Dan Murphy, The Broadway Rose Theatre (OR), Chair
Michael Ballam, Utah Festival Opera Company (UT)
Rick Boynton, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (IL)
Wayne Bryan, Music Theatre Wichita (KS)
Mark Fleischer, Pittsburgh CLO (PA)
Donna Lynn Hilton, Goodspeed Musicals (CT)
Robb Hunt, Village Theatre (WA)
Jennifer Jaquess, Red Mountain Theatre Company (AL)
Orlando Morales, The 5th Avenue Theatre (WA)
Spring Conference Committee
Frank Stilwagner, Village Theatre (WA), Chair
Charma Bonanno, Weston Playhouse Theatre Company (VT)
Charlie Frasier, ZACH Theatre (TX)
Jill Big Eagle, The 5th Avenue Theatre (WA)
Jeffrey Herrmann, Seattle Repertory Theatre (WA)
Chris Marcacci, The 5th Avenue Theatre (WA)
Agenda
Thursday, March 28, 2019 (All times PT)
1:30 - 5:00 pm | EDI Workshop: Leading with a Racial Equity Lens for Structural Transformation (Add-On) Seattle Repertory Theatre Hosted by Seattle Rep. Supported by 4Culture, The Alhadeff Charitable Foundation, Broadway Licensing and the National Endowment for the Arts. FREE! Just let us know if you plan to attend when you register. Through exercises, discussions and presentations, participants will strengthen their knowledge of strategies and tools to achieve equity. We will explore a framework for racial justice efforts that moves beyond merely valuing racial diversity to achieving racial equity. We will explore how leading with a racial equity lens is an essential component of a strategy for structural transformation to create equity for all. Goals and Objectives
Please join us for this intensive pre-conference workshop. We look forward to beginning a dialogue together, and approaching each other with compassion and insight. Scott Winn is a racial equity consultant who supports a variety of entities, from grassroots organizations to governmental institutions, in addressing racial and other inequities and transforming policies and practices to achieve equity for all. He provides training, facilitation, assessment, coaching and strategic development. He is a faculty member at the University of Washington, School of Social Work. For eight years he was a Policy and Development Lead for the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI). For the past 25 years he has been active with grassroots organizations engaged in racial, gender and economic transformation. |
6:00 - 9:00 pm | Kick-Off Cocktail Party Waterways Cruises Hosted by Village Theatre Join us for a gorgeous sunset cruise on the Olympic Star between Lake Union and Lake Washington, taking in points of interest such as Gasworks Park, the Ship Canal, Montlake Cut, Husky Stadium, Mount Rainier and the spectacular Seattle skyline. With hors d’oeuvres and drinks and lots of time for networking with colleagues while you take in the sites! Transportation will be provided from the W Hotel (1112 4th Avenue; buses will park on Seneca Street) from 5:45 to 6:30 pm. If you prefer to drive on your own, free parking is available at the Waterways site. The boat will depart the dock at 7:00 and return at approximately 8:30. Return transportation to the W will be provided from 8:30 to 9:00. |
Friday, March 29, 2019 (All times PT)
8:00 - 9:30 am | Breakfast and Check-In W Hotel Seattle Sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide |
9:30 - 10:00 am | Transportation to Village Theatre W Hotel Seattle Busses will depart promptly at 9:30. |
10:00 - 10:30 am | Welcome Remarks and Success Story Lightning Round! Village Theatre First Stage |
10:30 - 11:30 am | Keynote Presentation: Development Across Departments Village Theatre First Stage The Seattle Symphony’s Jane Hargraft will share a dynamic presentation on breaking down silos and furthering the culture of philanthropy within your organization. |
11:30 am - 12:45 pm | Panel: Arts Funding in Challenging Times Village Theatre First Stage A from-the-trenches look at how our fundraising is affected by the current political and media climate. How do we position the arts as “important” and worthy of donations when so many causes and campaigns are vying for attention? How do you cut through the noise of a constant news cycle? How can arts organizations work with other types of non-profits instead of fighting against them for dollars? Moderated by Keith Cromwell (Red Mountain Theatre Company), with Bernie Griffin (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Hillary Hart (Theatre Under The Stars), and Anthony Rodriguez (Aurora Theatre Company). |
12:45 - 2:00 pm | Lunch and NAMT Membership Update Village Theatre Francis J. Gaudette Theatre Building Lunch sponsored by Concord Theatricals. |
2:00 - 3:00 pm | Breakout Sessions Concurrent presentations and small group discussions on various topics: Loyalty-Driven Fundraising In the ever-changing landscape of philanthropy, are you making data-informed decisions to stay in front of the opportunities? For this break-out session, TRG Arts will collect and analyze topline individual giving data from participating organizations, inspiring new ideas for your 2019 Annual Fund. [To get the most out of this session, TRG asks that you provide some data for a hands-on workshop. Please click here if you’re interested in attending and TRG will send you a short data collection worksheet.] Pehrson Studio Getting Started with Planned Giving Don’t Put Off to Tomorrow, What You Must Do Today. In this presentation and roundtable discussion we will explore the importance of ensuring your organization’s future into perpetuity through the development of planned giving and bequests. We’ll discuss the steps to setting up a dedicated program, benefits of membership and the fiduciary responsibility we each have to the health of the organization long after our time there has passed. First Stage Studio Increasing and Sustaining Board Engagement How do we most effectively engage our boards to tell our stories? Share your board recruitment and engagement success stories (or learn from your colleagues’).What tools do you use to engage your board — in new initiatives? in creating exciting solutions to new or continuing challenges? to reach into new communities and constituencies? Waters Studio Special Events and Milestones Special Events not only create an opportunity to raise funds for your organization, but they also build relationships, increase awareness, and can provide a sense of connection for your guests. What tools, event planning skills and successful approaches can allow the true spirit of your event to shine through? Join the discussion as we share effective strategies and learning opportunities. Tompkins Studio Changes to Federal Tax Law and Their Impact on Non-Profits 2017 Tax Reform made the charitable deduction the most valuable itemized deduction to high income taxpayers. As such the IRS has been issuing guidance that affects how non-profits raise funds now and in the future. This includes how the preliminary guidance on use of donor advised funds (DAFs) is impacting donors and the organizations they fund. We will also discuss whether there really is less “drive by philanthropy” as some claim, or if giving is just shifting to a different platform? If it is just a shift, how do charities tap the well safely and effectively? And last, if there is time, we’ll look at trends in alternative revenue sources for charitable organizations. First Stage |
3:15 - 3:30 pm | A Word From Our Sponsor: Cinevative Village Theatre First Stage |
3:45 - 4:45 pm | Case Studies: Special Campaigns Village Theatre First Stage NAMT members will present from the trenches on various stages of capital and endowment campaigns. What’s working? What isn’t? How can theatres invest in their futures and campaign to fund programs that may seem less tangible than buildings to donors. Moderated by Charlie Frasier (ZACH Theatre) with Wynne Fedele (Pittsburgh CLO), Janell Johnson (Village Theatre), Sharon Maroney (The Broadway Rose Theatre Company), Catherine Merlo (Seattle Opera) and Marc Robin (Fulton Theatre). |
4:45 - 5:45 pm | Panel: Building Corporate Partnerships Village Theatre First Stage You have relationships with your corporate sponsors just like any other donor. How do you nurture those to make sure everyone is happy? We’ll look at big companies and small, national and local, giving cash support and in-kind. Moderated by Frank Stilwagner (Village Theatre), with Sarah Bednar (Seattle Rep), Kent Bridges (Ogunquit Playhouse), Ryan Hicks (Seattle Symphony), Daniel Thomas (42nd Street Moon) and Lori White (The 5th Avenue Theatre). |
5:45 - 7:30 pm | Reception and Village Originals Cabaret Village Theatre First Stage Village Theatre’s Artistic Director, Jerry Dixon and Associate Artistic Director, Brandon Ivie will host a showcase of songs from musicals in development. This will be a fun-filled evening of cocktails, food and performances by Iris Elton (In the Heights, Cubamor), Nathaniel Tenenbaum (Dreamgirls, String), Sarah Russell (Dreamgirls), and Hannah Schuerman (…Howard Barnes); as well as a performance by members of Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE Originals program. |
7:30 pm | Transportation to W Hotel Seattle From Village Theatre First Stage, Issaquah For those not attending Curious Incident. |
8:00 pm | The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Add-On) Village Theatre Francis J. Gaudette Theatre Winner of five Tony Awards and seven Olivier Awards, this compelling sensory drama is based on the award-winning book of the same name. |
10:30 pm | Transportation to W Hotel Seattle From Village Theatre Main Stage, Issaquah |
Saturday, March 30, 2019 (All times PT)
8:30 - 9:45 am | Breakfast Fairmont Olympic Hotel Hosted by The 5th Avenue Theatre |
9:45 - 11:00 am | Panel: Team Fundraising Fairmont Olympic Hotel Teams from our Conference host theatres will share how they work together to raise money and make the case for their organizations. Moderated by Betsy King Militello (NAMT), with teams from The 5th Avenue Theatre (Jill Big Eagle, Chris Marcacci, Orlando Morales), Seattle Rep (Jeffrey Herrmann, Jamie Herlich) and Village Theatre (Jerry Dixon, Robb Hunt, Frank Stilwagner). |
11:00 - 11:15 am | Coffee Break Fairmont Olympic Hotel |
11:15 am - 12:15 pm | Panel: Data for Fundraising Fairmont Olympic Hotel How are NAMT members using data for both donor identification and engagement (data on donors) and better storytelling to donors (data on the theatre and its impact)? How can theatres with different budgets and levels of technical interest apply these techniques in ways that work for them? Moderated by Jill Big Eagle (The 5th Avenue Theatre), with Naomi Beeman (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Wayne Bryan (Music Theatre Wichita), Alex Harris (Tessitura), Jennifer Jaquess (Red Mountain Theatre Company), and Amy Lampi (Theatre Under The Stars). |
12:15 - 1:45 pm | Lunch and a Keynote Conversation with Ahrens & Flaherty Fairmont Olympic Hotel Although long-time songwriting teams have become a rarity, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty have proved the exception. In 1988, they burst onto the New York theatre scene with the comic musical Lucky Stiff, and their partnership in words and music has flourished ever since. Ahrens and Flaherty have received theatre, film and music’s highest honors — the Tony Award, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Olivier Award and Gold Record; as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes and three Grammys. They serve on the Council of the Dramatists Guild of America and founded the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program. In 2014 they received the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement and in 2015 they were inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame. Lunch sponsored by Music Theatre International and The Hollywood Pantages |
1:45 - 2:00 pm | A Word From Our Sponsor: AudienceView Fairmont Olympic Hotel |
2:00 - 3:00 pm | Panel: Foundation Trends Fairmont Olympic Hotel What are foundations looking for in the organizations and projects they support in 2019? How is this critical piece of our fundraising landscape moving forward in uncertain financial times? We’ll hear from grant-writers and the foundations themselves about what they expect from each other. Moderated by Elisbeth Challener (ZACH Theatre), with Amy Chasanov (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Mark Dederer (Biller Family Foundation), Lorin Dunlop (M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust) and Alix Wilber (UW World Series). |
3:00 - 4:00 pm | Panel: Tell Your Story Fairmont Olympic Hotel How are you telling your theatre’s stories to funders? What new tools and technology works for you? What tried-and-true methods do you keep going back to? What takeaways from this Conference will you start using next week? Moderated by Orlando Morales (The 5th Avenue Theatre), with Nancy Altschuler (Goodspeed Musicals), Chantry Banks (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma), Nick Keenan (Gameflow Interactive), Michelle Moga (The 5th Avenue Theatre) and Stephanie Rhoads-Bickham (42nd Street Moon). |
4:00 - 4:30 pm | Closing Remarks Fairmont Olympic Hotel Adam Grosswirth and Betsy King Militello (NAMT) |
5:30 - 8:00 pm | Closing Cocktails (Unofficial) Trace at the W Seattle Before you head to the theatre or leave town, join the NAMT staff for a drink at the W bar. Don’t leave without saying goodbye! (Cash bar.) |
8:00 pm | Marie, Dancing Still (Add-On) The 5th Avenue Theatre An exquisite new musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, based on a famed masterpiece by Edgar Degas and the unknown dancer who inspired it. |
Sunday, March 31, 2019 (All times PT)
8:45 am | Sunday at the Seattle Center with NAMT (Add-On) Meet in the W Hotel lobby to take the monorail (tickets provided) to the Seattle Center. A five block walk from the W, the Seattle Center Monorail is the nation’s first full-scale commercial monorail system and a beloved Seattle landmark. The Monorail departs approximately every 10 minutes, so you can meet us at the Center if you miss the group. |
9:30 am | Tour of Seattle Opera Center 363 Mercer Street Join us for a tour of Seattle Opera’s new building, which was just completed late last year. |
10:30 am | Tour of Seattle Rep 155 Mercer Street |
11:30 am | Spotlight Tours of the Museum of Pop Culture 325 5th Avenue N The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop) houses some of the world’s most legendary pop culture artifacts, aiming to make creative expression a life-change force through their offered experiences. In addition to receiving an admission ticket, NAMT members will receive spotlight tours of the Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic and Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction galleries. The first tour will begin at 11:30am and the second will follow at 12:30pm. Following the tours, you’ll be free to explore the museum for as long as you’d like before it closes at 5pm. |
12:30 pm | Lunch on Your Own Armory Grab lunch on your own at the Armory, a newly updated food court featuring fresh, local foods and beverages. |
2:00 pm | A Doll's House, Part 2 (Add-On) Seattle Repertory Theatre Nora Helmer’s unexpected homecoming is met with recriminations and the family drama unfolds in this explosively entertaining continuation of Henrik Ibsen’s acclaimed A Doll’s House. |
As of 3/19/19. Subject to change!
Directions & Activities
DIRECTIONS & TRANSIT
From SEA-TAC airport to the W Hotel
Follow signs in the airport to the Light Link Rail.
Take the Northbound/University of Washington train to University Street Station
Exit at 3rd Avenue and University Street
Walk one block to 4th Avenue (please note that this is up a fairly steep hill), make a right and walk one block to Seneca Street. The W is on the corner of 4th and Seneca.
The train comes about every 10 minutes and the trip takes about 45 minutes.
From the W Hotel to Seattle Rep/Seattle Center
Take the 1, 2, 13, or D buses, or the Seattle Center Monorail. (Bus tickets can be purchased using the Transit GO app (iOS | Android); monorail tickets at the station.)
Weather permitting, it’s a 35 minute (flat!) walk.
Ride-hailing and cab services are of course also available.
W Hotel to Village Theatre
Lyft: About 30 minutes, $35 (plus tip)
554 Bus (Bus tickets can be purchased using the Transit GO app (iOS | Android))
W Hotel to Fairmont Hotel Metropole Room
Exit the W via either exit. If you’re on Seneca Street (the exit closest to the registration desk), make a left, and then a right onto 4th Avenue. If you’re already on 4th Avenue (the restaurant level), make a right.
Walk to the middle of the next block (past Shuckers restaurant) and you’ll see an entrance to the hotel.
Attractions & Activities
If you have free time while you’re in Seattle with us, check out these recommendations from the NAMT staff and our host theatres.
Attendees
Daniel Thomas
Executive Artistic Director
Peter Sorensen
Treasurer
Nick Ronan
Senior Director, Business Development
Thao Le
Regional Account Executive
Joseph Guglielmo
Director, Consumer Ticketing and Membership
Anthony Rodriguez
Co-Founder
Mark Dederer
mark@billerfamilyfoundation.org
Tralen Doler
V.P. Partnerships & Brand Engagement
deShauna Jones
Development Director
Sharon Maroney
Producing Artistic Director
Marsha Brooks
Partner, Brooks & Distler
Lawrence Brooks
CFO
Mark Ciglar
CEO
Jennifer Becker Harris
Shareholder, Tax
Michelle Yaroshko
SVP, Professional Licensing (North America)
Abbie Van Nostrand
Consultant
Jayme McDaniel
Creative Director
Soren Moller
Creative Producer
Marc Robin
Executive Artistic Producer
Jeff Coon
Annual Fund and Foundation Manager
Nicole Hackmann
Director of Development
Nancy Altschuler
Donna Lynn Hilton
Artistic Director
Marleen Alhadeff
Producer
Kenny Alhadeff
Lead Producer
Robert Friend
Vice President, Nonprofit Sales
Jenny Hester
Business Development Director
Craig Krawczyk
President | Lead Design Architect
Kerrie Brinkman-White
Director of Development
Chantry Banks
Development Officer
Jim Reynolds
Managing Director
Curt Dale Clark
Artistic Director
Tom McCoy
President/CEO
Lorin Dunlop
Program Director
Michael Macaione
Professional Licensing
Matt Boethin
Professional Licensing Director, N. America
Wayne Bryan
Producing Director
Brian J. Marcum
Artistic Director
Bren Thor
Associate Producer
Ted Rawlins
Producer
Kelly Kohlman
Jen Whitton
Development Associate
Adam Grosswirth
Member Services Director
Ciera Iveson
Betsy Militello
Executive Director
Karin Nilo
Program Manager
Kent Bridges
Managing Director
Bradford Kenney
Executive Artistic Director
Dan Breen
Leah Dixon
Director of Individual Giving and Advancement Operations
Kelli Foster Warder
Associate Artistic Director/Director of Impact
Mike Stotts
Executive Director
Wynne Fedele
Director of Development
Harriet Schlader
Producer/Executive Director
Ed Loss
Corporate Board Director
Natalie Fong
Marketing
Jeff Fong
Board
Sebastian Romeo
Executive Board Member
Joanne Romeo
Jill of helping in any way
Stephanie Rhoads-Bickham
Board of Directors
Keith Cromwell
Director of Institutional Advancement
Lynne Hutton
Director of Development
Jennifer Jaquess
Executive Director
Jon Moses
Managing Director, COO
Mary Jane Avans
Vice President, Business Development
Phil Lacey
Executive Artistic Director
Catherine Weatbrook
Board President
Catherine Merlo
Sr. Individual Giving Officer
Jamie Herlich
Managing Director
Jeffrey Herrmann
Managing Director
Chris Quillici
Donor Services Specialist
Sasha Habash
Annual Giving Director
Anna Strickland
Donor Stewardship Associate
Melissa Husby
Director of Strategic Communications
Sarah Bednar
Institutional Partnerships Director
Jane Hargraft
Director of Development
Ryan Hicks
Michael Murphy
Wendy Gillespie
President & CEO
Alex Harris
Director, Business Development
Jill Big Eagle
Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Bernie Griffin
Managing Director Emeritus and Senior Advisor
Michelle Moga
Vice President of Philanthropy
Tina Yu
Membership Coordinator
Andrew Roland
Development Assistant
Roland Carette-Meyers
Individual Giving Officer
Naomi Beeman
Development Writing & Research Manager
Lori White
Assistant Director of Corporate and Event Development
Amy Chasanov
Foundation and Government Relations Manager
Jeff Loeb
President
Aaron Thielen
Co-Founder
Kwofe Coleman
President & CEO
Olivia Homewood
Grants and Donor Engagement Manager
Ronnie Plasters
VP Philanthropy
Shawnna Gauss
Director of Development
Amy Lampi
AVP
Hillary Hart
Executive Director
Phil Santora
Bradley Lohrenz
Vice President, Professional and International Licensing
Lysna Marzani
Director of Professional & International Licensing
Stephanie Prugh
Development Manager
Lindsay Anderson
COO
Matt Hawkins
Director of Musical Theatre
Michael Ballam
Founding General Director
Alix Wilber
Robb Hunt
Janell Johnson
Associate Development Director: Endowment & Planned Giving
Diane Wright
Director of Finance
Aileen Forde
Institutional & Major Gifts
Danielle Franich
Director of Development
Tracie Mahadeo
Annual Fund & Stewardship Manager
Patrick Ostrander
Development Assistant
Frank Stilwagner
Director of Development
Elisbeth Challener
Producer/Owner
Charlie Frasier
VP Development
Guidelines
Participation Guidelines
NAMT is committed to recognizing and celebrating the diversity of experiences, talents, skills, cultures and opinions that our members bring to our community, and specifically to our events. We invite you to participate in the Fall Conference and Festival of New Musicals in a spirit of open-mindedness, curiosity and respect.
We want every NAMT event to be a safe, inclusive and productive environment for all participants. In that spirit, we ask you to…
- Be inclusive, actively seeking and inviting diverse perspectives
- Listen to understand
- Participate in an active and direct way, with professionalism and respect for others
- Be considerate, kind, constructive and helpful in your language and actions
- Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory or harassing behavior and language
- Respect confidentiality requests by speakers and other attendees
NAMT staff and Board may take action (up to and including expulsion with no refund and exclusion from future events) to redress disruptive, disrespectful or offensive behavior or any other actions deemed in conflict with the above guidelines.
Thank you to every NAMT community member for helping to make all of our events informative, inclusive and respectful.
This page was last updated on 07/14/2020