October 2007
Dear Friend of the Auditorium:
As the new president of the Door Community Auditorium Corporation Board of Directors, let me introduce myself. I am Kaaren Northrop, a full-time resident of Door County for 20 years, and along with my parents and husband, the owners of the Main Street Market in Egg Harbor. Steve and I have three children; two have graduated from Gibraltar Area Schools and our daughter is an incoming freshman. I have been a DCA board member since 1999, and am following in the footsteps of an esteemed group of past presidents including my father – Dave Callsen!
This annual Auditorium Society letter is meant to explain why we rely upon your generous contributions to operate the Auditorium. Ticket sales are designed to cover the performance fees, but there are many other fixed and variable expenses – rent, staff, performer travel and housing, maintenance, and more – that cannot be covered by 10 to 12 Mainstage performances in our 750 seat Auditorium.
I asked Pete Evans, our program and technical director, for Auditorium usage figures for July 2006 through June 2007.
Gibraltar Schools, our landlord, appropriately used the Auditorium the greatest number of days–109--during the school year. I hope that you have had the pleasure of attending an elementary or high school concert performance or graduation; the Auditorium is a truly amazing asset for Gibraltar students.
Community usage rentals totaled 53 days to organizations across the Peninsula. These included Help of Door County, the YMCA, Peninsula Chamber Singers, Isadoora Theatre, and, of course, The Peninsula Music Festival.
DCA usage was 33 days. Mainstage performances, St. Norbert Distinguished Lecture Series, Fireside Coffeehouse performances, and the Door County Idol comprise the total.
The name, Door Community Auditorium, may not sound glamorous or theatrical, but accurately portrays the intent and usage of this building. Our board and staff are very cognizant of the importance of the “Community” in our name. Our collective desire is to provide a venue for all of our community—visitors and residents, students and families, organizations and groups—that all can be proud of and in which all may find a memory.
The arts climate in Door County is very competitive, with an abundance of high quality venues and options available. The Door Community Auditorium’s 2007 summer season has been impressive with two sold-out shows and an interesting mix of performances. We are competing for sponsorship and charitable giving dollars, as well as entertainment dollars, with organizations offering visitors and residents many choices. I believe the Door Community Auditorium is the grande dame of this community, and sincerely thank you for any contribution you make for our future.
Sincerely,
Kaaren Northrop, president
Door Community Auditorium Corporation Board of Directors
Insider Information
Ever wonder what miscellaneous costs go into presenting a Mainstage performance at the Door Community Auditorium? It often costs twice the talent fee!
Here’s how:
Air conditioning the theater--$1,900 per month
Heating the theater--$1,100 per month
Keeping the theater clean--$2,500 per month
Fixed costs in the monthly lease--$678
Providing live box office assistance--$105 per day
Housing the performers--$125 per night for as many as 20 people
Ground transportation--$90 per person per trip
Lunch--$14 each for as many as 30 people
Dinner--$25 each for as many as 30 people
Special requests based on the contract--$200-$300
Special sound equipment, lighting and projection—as much $1,250 per performance
Union stage hands--$62 per person per performance
Marketing
o Print and broadcast advertising, average per show--$1,250
o Posters, average per show--$100
o Program inserts, average per show--$150
o Summer/Fall season announcement brochure--$7,200
o Mainstage Playbill book--$12,300
o Winter season brochure--$4,200
Your gift to the Auditorium is greatly appreciated. As you can see, we will put your donation to good use to ensure the show goes on! Thank you.
Press contact:
Patricia Podgers
(920) 868.2728
patricia@dcauditorium.org |
