TheatreWorks
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8
"Up" is the number of experts who agree that the nonprofit has had the most impact in the
field. "Down" is the number of experts who disagree that the nonprofit has had the most impact in field.
Headquarters Location: Palo Alto, CA
Founded: 1970
Mission: TheatreWorks is one of America’s outstanding professional theatres. Our work celebrates the human spirit through innovative productions, new works, and education programs inspired by and engaging our diverse Silicon Valley community.
Tags:
bay area, arts & culture, production, theatre, musicals, comedies, dramas, performances, arts education, original works
Summary
Stories
Expert Reviews
Leadership
From the Nonprofit
Leadership
Robert Kelley.
A Bay Area native and Stanford University graduate. He founded TheatreWorks in 1970 and has been its Artistic Director ever since. He has directed over 150 TheatreWorks productions, including many world or regional premieres. In 2003 he received the Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Paine Knickerbocker Award for lifetime achievement. He has garnered BATCC Awards for Outstanding Direction for his…
See full bio.
Financial Data
Charity Navigator Rating:
(profile)
(profile)
Overhead Ratio:
19.01%
Total Revenue:
$5,955,079
From the Nonprofit
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Contact Info
Address:
PO Box 50458
Palo Alto, CA 94303, USA
Story:
How did TheatreWorks grow from working in parking garages or a warehouse or basement to one of California's largest theatres?
TheatreWorks was founded by San Francisco Bay Area native Robert Kelley in 1970 as a theatre arts workshop for teenage and college students. Chartered by the City of Palo Alto to produce work that would reflect the concerns of the community during an unsettled period in American life, the company produced 13 wholly original works for the stage in its first three years. In those early days, "the stage" was a parking garage, a warehouse or basement, an outdoor park—wherever the company could make space for a performance.
Talented performers, designers, and other artists flocked to TheatreWorks, and the company soon became known for two distinctive qualities in addition to its originality. First, its production values were extraordinary, with sets and costumes that far surpassed its limited budgets. Second, at a time when performers of color were rarely seen on local stages, the company was determined that the diversity of the community should be reflected and represented on the stage, and so it was.
As TheatreWorks celebrates its 41st season, it is one of California's largest theatres, with 36 permanent staff members, a 24-member Board of Trustees, more than 8,000 subscribers, and an annual budget of $7 million. A pioneer in diversity programming, a regular home to world and regional premieres, and a widely-hailed source of original new works for the American stage, TheatreWorks has become the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley.
(Read more about TheatreWorks at: http://www.theatreworks.org/about/history/)
Expert Reviews of TheatreWorks
Evidence of Impact Summary:
TheatreWorks offers a very diverse season. This company goes from producing a contemporary drama like Sarah Ruhl's "The Clean House" to a sophisticated musical like Stephen Sondheim's "Pacific Overtures" and then to a trusty old show like "On Golden Pond." No other theater makes such dramatic leaps. This kind of season only happens when the core audience has been developed with care and treated as a partner in the artistic process. They also have a growing national reputation and have developed the New Works Program to develop modern/contemporary works and The Workshop which offers a wide range of educational and community programs.See expert comments.
Organization Strengths Summary:
Experts think TheatreWorks is outstanding because of their visionary leader who had developed the organization for the last 40 years, cultivating his audiences and ambitiously brining new work to the stage. TheatreWorks is deeply involved in the community and well managed all around. They are dedicated to education and appeal to a younger audience.See expert comments.
Areas for Improvement Summary:
Some experts would like to see TheatreWorks use more local artists in their productions and program development. Other experts think they should take more risks in their season planning, but that has to be balanced carefully with their diverse audience's interests.See expert comments.
Expert Comments: Evidence of Impact
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Nonprofit Senior Staff (N)
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Other (consultants, journalists, policy makers) (O)
Impact |
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Besides its superb performance season, TheatreWorks has two programs of long-term impact on the field and the future of theatre: New Works Program develops modern/contemporary works, often in collaboration with other theatre companies, and The Workshop offers a wide range of educational and community programs. | ||
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They have a growing national reputation and increased professionalism. | ||
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Their programming includes mostly new shows, many by upcoming playwrights and musical directors, and attempts to be inclusive/representative of the Bay Area's multiple cultures. | ||
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They provide a high degree of educational opportunities and do a lot of outreach which helps them fulfill their goals and mission. | ||
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No Bay Area theater company offers a more diverse or interesting season than TheatreWorks. This is a company that can go from producing a contemporary drama like Sarah Ruhl's "The Clean House" to a sophisticated musical like Stephen Sondheim's "Pacific Overtures" and then do a trusty old show like "On Golden Pond." No other theater makes such dramatic leaps. This kind of season only happens when the core audience has been developed with care and treated as a partner in the artistic process. | ||
Expert Comments: Organization Strengths
Select the boxes to display the results according to expert type.
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Foundation Professionals (F)
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Researchers and Faculty (R)
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Nonprofit Senior Staff (N)
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Other (consultants, journalists, policy makers) (O)
Visionary Leader with Operational Excellence |
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TheatreWorks has been led for 40 years by founder Robert Kelley, whose artistic vision not only encompasses excellence in theatre but also deep involvement with the community. This organization has been an model of artistic development AND organizational (operations, finances) stability. | ||
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They have strong infrastructure and steady leadership, as well as an active board. | ||
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Its artistic leadership is strong, and the organization itself is strong is all aspects. | ||
Develop New Works |
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They have a fresh, new approach, develop new works, appeal to younger audiences and again, and have an incredible dedication to education. | ||
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The primary reason for TheatreWorks' success is simple: the founding artistic director Robert Kelley. His voice, his vision, his care for his audiences has made all the difference. His evolution and growing sophistication as a director finds a direct reflection in the ambition of the seasons. TheatreWorks has become one of the country's go-to theaters to develop new musical theater works, and they bring the excitement of Broadway-bound shows to Bay Area regional theater. | ||
Expert Comments: Areas for Improvement
Select the boxes to display the results according to expert type.
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Foundation Professionals (F)
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Researchers and Faculty (R)
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Nonprofit Senior Staff (N)
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Other (consultants, journalists, policy makers) (O)
Office Space and Expansion |
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It would be great if they could start satellite series in other parts of the region! | ||
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It would be great if they had a home base in Palo Alto--their offices are scattered. | ||
Take More Risks, but Balance them Carefully |
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I'd like them to take more risk in terms of planning their season. | ||
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Because its seasons are so eclectic, TheatreWorks has to exercise care in not swinging the pendulum so widely that they pander to one end of the audience or another. | ||
Use Local Artists More |
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I'd like to see them return more to casting local actors and utilizing local designers and directors. | ||
Leadership
Robert Kelley
Artistic Director
Artistic Director
From the Nonprofit
The nonprofit has not added any comments yet. If you are a representative of this nonprofit and would like to leave a comment, please email us at
feedback@myphilanthropedia.org
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