What It Takes to Keep a Community Theater Running

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article on the diverse, innovative approaches community theaters around the country are utilizing to stay afloat. The long running Aspen Community Theatre and Colorado Mountain College theatre program faculty Brad Moore were featured in the article by Kevin Brass.

Aspen Community Theater puts on one show in the fall, like this production of “My Fair Lady.” Stuart Huck — Aspen Community Theater puts on one show in the fall, like this production of “My Fair Lady.” Photo: Stuart Huck

All the world may be a stage, but theater is a tough way to make a buck.

Lots of people dream of starting a local theater. It’s a way to get into show business on their own terms or share their passion for live performance with their neighbors—and perhaps make some money doing what they love.

But raising the curtain can be much more of a challenge than they imagined. Typically, they end up having to scrimp, save and beg to stay afloat. They survive on ingenuity—cobbling together public and private funding, low-cost attention-getting stunts and strong local support. Click for full article