![]() Now staff and volunteers do the job in two weeks, Johnson said. Before last year, production staff and volunteers would take six weeks to build sets and prepare the space for performances. That means faster turnaround times for the Civic’s shows. “So many organizations and groups don’t have a home.”Įvents are happening at the Civic Theatre every weekend in April and May. “I don’t know why it hasn’t been done before,” she said. The city and the Civic Theatre had to rewrite their lease to allow other organizations to use the space. It took some convincing to employ the concept, Johnson said. The Rep also renovated its own building’s facilities in 2021. Returned to live audiences under COVID-19 restrictions in 2021.Īt the time, COVID prevention policies wouldn’t have allowed for a large enough audience in the Rep’s space. Johnson said her main goal when she was hired was to bring other nonprofit theater companies, dance companies and performing arts organizations to use the Civic Theatre’s facilities. “The landlords are now taking care of the space.” “We are now tenants in a city-owned building,” Johnson said. Johnson said it has helped Civic Theatre focus on programming. The arrangement is called the “one roof” plan. Those costs have been shifted to Experience Rochester, a private entity that’s now in charge of overall Mayo Civic Center building maintenance including adjoining spaces occupied by the Rochester Civic Theatre and The Rochester Art Center. “I don’t believe theaters across the country would be here today without that bill.”Īnother factor in the company’s rebound was shedding facility maintenance costs. “Save Our Stages was 100% a lifeline,” Johnson said. ![]() Have put the company back in the black and on better terms with city leaders. In the three years since, cutting costs, increasing use of the space by other live performance nonprofit organizations and funding from theįederal COVID relief through the “Save Our Stages Act” Members suggested an audit of the Civic Theatre’s finances and a reduction in city contribution to the company. The committee was established to oversee how nonprofit organizations spend money they receive from the city. The loan blindsided Rochester City Council’s oversight committee. Miller resigned abruptly in January 2020. Each month, the Civic Theatre was faced with $5,500 in debt service toward a $300,000 loan taken out by the previous executive director, Kevin Miller.
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