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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4190 City of Palo Alto (ID # 4190) City Council Staff Report Report Type: Special Orders of the Day Meeting Date: 10/21/2013 City of Palo Alto Page 1 Summary Title: Partnership Presentation: Palo Alto Players Title: Community Partner Presentation: Palo Alto Players at the Lucie Stern Community Theatre From: City Manager Lead Department: Community Services The Palo Alto Players will outline their schedule of performances for the 2013/2014 theatre season, initiatives to expand the diversity of program offerings, and their history in successfully staging great performances at the Lucie Stern Theatre over the past 83 years. Attachments:  Palo Alto Players Fact Sheet (PDF) FACT  SHEET,  2013   Palo  Alto  Players  •  1305  Middlefield  Rd  •  Palo  Alto,  CA    94301   www.paplayers.org  •  650.329.0891     MISSION   Palo  Alto  Players  is  committed  to  providing  a  meaningful  theatre  experience  for  both  audience  and   production  participants.  Intrinsic  in  this  is  the  belief  that  theatre  benefits  the  community-­‐at-­‐large  and   enhances  the  quality  of  life  of  those  who  are  touched  by  it  through  education,  enlightenment  and  enrichment.   In  support  of  this  mission,  we  are  committed  to:   1) Diversity  in  programming;   2) Accessibility  to  all  those  interested;  and   3) Support  of  theatrical  training  and  career  development.     BRIEF  HISTORY   Born  in  the  Great  Depression,  Palo  Alto  Players  became  the  Peninsula’s  first  theatre  company  in  1931  when  a   group  of  100  like-­‐minded  citizens  gathered  together  to  create  a  theatre  dedicated  to  its  community.  Truly  a   home-­‐grown  organization,  Palo  Alto  Players  productions  are  seen  by  over  1,000  season  subscribers  and  more   than  12,500  residents  throughout  the  Peninsula.  Palo  Alto  Players  has  been  shaping  the  artistic  scene  in   Silicon  Valley  long  before  there  was  a  Silicon  Valley,  and  this  opportunity  to  impact  the  artistic  landscape  of   California  is  a  responsibility  the  Players  takes  seriously.  True  to  its  mission,  Palo  Alto  Players  casts  local   actors  in  all  five  main-­‐stage  productions,  highlights  the  work  of  local  directors  and  designers,  and  fills  its   orchestra  pit  with  local  musicians.  Much  has  changed  in  the  83  years  since  Palo  Alto  Players  first  began,  but   the  Players  is  proud  to  continue  its  storied  tradition  of  live  theatre,  born  of  the  community  and  performed  for   the  community.     DESCRIPTION  OF  PROGRAMMING   Palo  Alto  Players  is  the  oldest  theatre  group  on  the  Peninsula,  currently  in  its  83rd  year  of  producing  diverse   programming  that  highlights  local  talent  and  tells  stories  of  particular  resonance  for  the  local  community.   Palo  Alto  Players’  83rd  Season  highlights  a  season  of  powerful  change.  Break  through  to  a  world  of   possibilities  with  these  five  wonderful  shows!     In  the  Heights  –  an  exhilarating  ground-­‐breaking  musical  for  the  21st  century;  God  of  Carnage  –  a  comedy   of  manners…  without  the  manners;  The  Heiress  –  a  timeless  drama  of  wealth,  class,  and  the  true  cost  of   love;  Young  Frankenstein  –  a  monstrously  good  musical  super-­‐charged  with  laughter  and  fun;  The   Farnsworth  Invention  –  a  season  finale  forever  altering  the  way  we  view  the  world.     BUDGET   Palo  Alto  Players’  annual  budget  for  staffing,  general  operations,  and  direct  production  costs  for  its  season  of   five  plays  and  musicals  at  the  City-­‐owned  Lucie  Stern  Theater  is  approximately  $625,000.  An  estimated  60%   of  each  annual  budget  is  earned  in  ticket  sales  and  other  earned  income,  20%  is  contributed,  and  the   remaining  is  derived  from  investments.  In  addition,  per  the  agreement  between  the  City  of  Palo  Alto  and  Palo   Alto  Players,  all  tickets  sold  are  assessed  an  additional  “facility  usage  fee”  of  $2.00  per  ticket.    These  fees  are   collected  and  remitted  to  the  City.    In  the  2013-­‐2014  season,  they  totaled  nearly  $24,000..     HOW  TO  PARTICIPATE!   Individual  tickets  and  season  subscriptions  can  be  purchased  by  calling  our  Box  Office  (650.329.0891)  or   visiting  us  online  at  www.paplayers.org.  Individual  tickets  range  from  $23-­‐$45,  and  are  priced  according  to  a   three-­‐tiered  seating  chart.  Discounted  tickets  may  be  available  to  Seniors  (62+),  Students  (w/current  ID),  and   groups.