Wednesday, June 29, 2011
38,000 Reasons
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 10 months since we launched the new website. On Monday evening we led a website workshop at the League offices for a dozen lucky member companies. The workshop was intended to give a greater understanding of all of the features on ChicagoPlays.com and LeagueofChicagoTheatres.org that are available to members to engage theatre-loving patrons, to promote their company and production information and help sell tickets. Before the workshop we pulled some site analytics, and we were very happy with what we discovered: During the month of June we had nearly 38,000 unique visitors on ChicagoPlays.com compared with only 23,000 during the same month last year. Our average number of page views per visitor is now 4.5, up from only 1.3 before, and visitors now spend nearly 3 minutes on the site looking around, compared with barely a minute last year. We also found it interesting that Safari is now the most popular browser used by visitors on our website. So if you’re wondering why it's a good idea to have lots of engaging content on your theatre page and show pages: there are at least 38,000 reasons. We’ve continued to work on the site throughout the year making improvements, and even this week you may have noticed some helpful changes on the backend in your theatre-account. As it is a work in progress, we hope that you’ll continue to email us or comment to share feedback and suggestions on how we can make the site better for everyone. And if you weren’t able to attend the workshop on Monday but you would like some help taking advantage of all the bells and whistles, contact ben@chicagoplays.com.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
3 Years!!
I was reading over some of my past blogs, including blog #1, which was super long so if you read that, thanks. It’s one of those things that seem like just yesterday and ever so long ago. Next week will mark my third year at the League. The League board and staff have accomplished a lot over the past three years. I love this job, it affords me the great privilege of being able to know so many of you and to see so many extraordinary productions. I feel lucky indeed.
Here’s the thing, I don’t think we hear enough from our members. What are some things you think we should be doing that we don’t? What do we not do enough of? Are there programs that you think we should not do anymore? Is there a pressing issue that you feel is not being adequately addressed? I’m not a big fan of surveys for all sorts of reasons, but should we do one?
I realize most of you just don’t have time to give this question a lot of thought but if there is one thing you have been thinking of or maybe talking about or hearing from your friends – leave a one word comment or email. And, as I said in that very first blog, I’d love to hear from you.
Deb
Here’s the thing, I don’t think we hear enough from our members. What are some things you think we should be doing that we don’t? What do we not do enough of? Are there programs that you think we should not do anymore? Is there a pressing issue that you feel is not being adequately addressed? I’m not a big fan of surveys for all sorts of reasons, but should we do one?
I realize most of you just don’t have time to give this question a lot of thought but if there is one thing you have been thinking of or maybe talking about or hearing from your friends – leave a one word comment or email. And, as I said in that very first blog, I’d love to hear from you.
Deb
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Industry Ticket Offer
Middletown by Will Eno - Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. is offering $10 tickets now available for performances Saturday, June 25th at 3 p.m. and Tuesday, June 28th at 7:30 p.m. To redeem $10 tickets call Audience Services directly at 312.335.1650 and use code “8661.” Tickets must be reserved at least one hour before performance. Subject to availability.
Faith Healer - Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. is offering $10 industry tickets for all performances July 7 to 24. Actor’s tickets are available with headshot and resume and designer tickets are available with business card or resume. Subject to availability. For more information call (630) 942-4000.
Faith Healer - Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. is offering $10 industry tickets for all performances July 7 to 24. Actor’s tickets are available with headshot and resume and designer tickets are available with business card or resume. Subject to availability. For more information call (630) 942-4000.
Stockyards Theatre Project Seeks Participants for Play for Keeps
Launched in 2007, Stockyards Theatre Project’s “Play for Keeps” continues to fulfill the Stockyards mission of giving volume to the voice of women by creating positive, substantial roles in plays for women performers.
In “Play for Keeps,” participants begin by bringing in any ideas they have for scenes, characters or scenarios and begin developing a play structure, style and character. Through the workshop they bring their voice into a dramatic structure and begin to share their work for facilitated group feedback. Stockyards Co-Producing Artistic Director, Francesca Peppiatt, who created the initiative, facilitates these critique sessions. Participants include emerging playwrights as well as actors who have never written or who are working on a show for themselves and need somewhere to develop. This program is also helpful for actors who may not be ready to start writing but would like to participate in the creative process while strengthening their cold reading skills.
In this season, Stockyards Theatre Project will for the first time be using The Think Tank space for “Play for Keeps.” The Think Tank is run by Brikenbrak Theatre Project; watch their official website, www.brikenbrak.org, for upcoming audition notices.
WHERE: The Think Tank, 1770 W. Berteau, suite 207
There is a parking lot in addition to street parking and easy CTA access.
WHEN: 4:00-6:00 p.m. - Sundays
July 3
July 10
July 17
July 24
July 31
For further information please contact stockyards@stockyardstheatreproject.org.
Staged reading location dates and times – TBD
In “Play for Keeps,” participants begin by bringing in any ideas they have for scenes, characters or scenarios and begin developing a play structure, style and character. Through the workshop they bring their voice into a dramatic structure and begin to share their work for facilitated group feedback. Stockyards Co-Producing Artistic Director, Francesca Peppiatt, who created the initiative, facilitates these critique sessions. Participants include emerging playwrights as well as actors who have never written or who are working on a show for themselves and need somewhere to develop. This program is also helpful for actors who may not be ready to start writing but would like to participate in the creative process while strengthening their cold reading skills.
In this season, Stockyards Theatre Project will for the first time be using The Think Tank space for “Play for Keeps.” The Think Tank is run by Brikenbrak Theatre Project; watch their official website, www.brikenbrak.org, for upcoming audition notices.
WHERE: The Think Tank, 1770 W. Berteau, suite 207
There is a parking lot in addition to street parking and easy CTA access.
WHEN: 4:00-6:00 p.m. - Sundays
July 3
July 10
July 17
July 24
July 31
For further information please contact stockyards@stockyardstheatreproject.org.
Staged reading location dates and times – TBD
Thursday, June 16, 2011
What's on Your Mind?
We are excited to announce that we're co-sponsoring the Chicago Theatre (anti) Conference this August 5-7 along with Theater Wit. We love being involved with just about any opportunity that brings members of the community together for networking and knowledge-sharing, so we were thrilled when Jeremy approached us about being a partner this year. Advance registration is open if you'd like to confirm your spot at the conference, but we're also looking for topic and speaker submissions right now. Speakers can attend the entire weekend conference for free and are encouraged to propose any subject of interest related to theatre in Chicago. Possible topics could include, but are not limited to: new work development, fundraising, audience building, online strategies, selling your work outside Chicago, grant applications, local government interactions, season programming, venue management, rental challenges, etc. More information about proposing a speaker or panel topic can be found here. It should be a fun and enlightening weekend so we hope to see you all there!
CPS Arts Partner Survey Convening
Please join us Wednesday, June 29 OR Thursday, June 30 to discuss the results of the CPS Arts Partner Survey.
The League of Chicago Theatres invites theatre-specific and multi-disciplinary organizations to join us for this next step in our process, whether or not you were able to complete the survey earlier this year.
On Wednesday, June 29 from 10am to 12pm and Thursday, June 30 from 6pm to 8pm at Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn), we will be sharing the results of the survey and asking for your reactions, feedback, and recommendations on where our sector can go from here. You need only attend one of these two sessions; light refreshments will be provided at each.
Please RSVP to Jess Hutchinson (jess@chicagoplays.com) with your name, organization, and the date and time you’ll be joining us; you will receive an e-mail confirming your RSVP. If you have any questions, feel free to send them to Jess as well.
Last winter, the Chicago Community Trust enlisted four institutions to work together and within their different artistic disciplines in creating recommendations for the improvement of arts education experiences of every student in the Chicago Public Schools. The first step in that task was to create and distribute the CPS Arts Partner Survey, designed to help us understand the current depth and breadth of arts partners’ work in CPS.
After working with many of you to create that survey, enlisting your help in spreading the word about it, collecting responses, and analyzing that data, it’s time to share the findings with you, and gather your input as we begin to draft our sector-specific recommendations.
Please Save The Date: TUESDAY, JULY 19th – we’ll again host two sessions at 1pm and 6pm respectively where we’ll present a draft of our final recommendations, informed by your feedback, before submitting them to the Trust.
The League of Chicago Theatres invites theatre-specific and multi-disciplinary organizations to join us for this next step in our process, whether or not you were able to complete the survey earlier this year.
On Wednesday, June 29 from 10am to 12pm and Thursday, June 30 from 6pm to 8pm at Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn), we will be sharing the results of the survey and asking for your reactions, feedback, and recommendations on where our sector can go from here. You need only attend one of these two sessions; light refreshments will be provided at each.
Please RSVP to Jess Hutchinson (jess@chicagoplays.com) with your name, organization, and the date and time you’ll be joining us; you will receive an e-mail confirming your RSVP. If you have any questions, feel free to send them to Jess as well.
Last winter, the Chicago Community Trust enlisted four institutions to work together and within their different artistic disciplines in creating recommendations for the improvement of arts education experiences of every student in the Chicago Public Schools. The first step in that task was to create and distribute the CPS Arts Partner Survey, designed to help us understand the current depth and breadth of arts partners’ work in CPS.
After working with many of you to create that survey, enlisting your help in spreading the word about it, collecting responses, and analyzing that data, it’s time to share the findings with you, and gather your input as we begin to draft our sector-specific recommendations.
Please Save The Date: TUESDAY, JULY 19th – we’ll again host two sessions at 1pm and 6pm respectively where we’ll present a draft of our final recommendations, informed by your feedback, before submitting them to the Trust.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Industry Ticket Offers
Romeo and Juliet - First Folio Theatre at Mayslake Hall, Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W 31st St, Oak Brook, is offering $10 industry tickets every Weds. & Thurs. evening at 8:15 PM from July 6 through August 4. Tickets may be purchased at the box office upon arrival, as there are always tickets available. Professionals must bring a union card, a headshot/resume, tech resume, or business card indicating employment in the theater business. Tickets may be purchased by calling 630-986-8067.
Yellow Face by David Henry Hwang - Silk Road Theatre Project at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Pierce Hall, is offering $10 industry tickets on Thursday, June 23rd at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, June 24th at 8:00 p.m. ADVANCE PURCHASES on-line at www.srtp.org or by calling the Goodman Theatre box office at 312-443-3800. Use coupon code "INDUSTRY." DAY OF PERFORMANCE DOOR PURCHASES – Industry Tickets available up to one hour before curtain. Must present headshot and/or resume. For more information visit www.srtp.org.
Yellow Face by David Henry Hwang - Silk Road Theatre Project at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Pierce Hall, is offering $10 industry tickets on Thursday, June 23rd at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, June 24th at 8:00 p.m. ADVANCE PURCHASES on-line at www.srtp.org or by calling the Goodman Theatre box office at 312-443-3800. Use coupon code "INDUSTRY." DAY OF PERFORMANCE DOOR PURCHASES – Industry Tickets available up to one hour before curtain. Must present headshot and/or resume. For more information visit www.srtp.org.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Industry Ticket Offers
Mother Bear by Jayme McGhan - Mortar Theatre Company at The Athenaeum, 2936 N. Southport Ave., is offering $15 tickets for all Friday and Sunday performances until June 19. Get the deal at the box office with headshot or business card. http://www.mortartheatrecompany.org/.
Fifty Words by Michael Weller - Profiles Theatre , 4147 N. Broadway, is offering $15 industry tickets for the performance on Thursday, June 16 at 8 p.m. There will be an audience talk-back following the performance featuring the cast and director. Call 773-549-1815 to reserve and mention this Industry discount. Visit www.profilestheatre.org for more information.
Fifty Words by Michael Weller - Profiles Theatre , 4147 N. Broadway, is offering $15 industry tickets for the performance on Thursday, June 16 at 8 p.m. There will be an audience talk-back following the performance featuring the cast and director. Call 773-549-1815 to reserve and mention this Industry discount. Visit www.profilestheatre.org for more information.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
On Participation
I was at a Symposium this week where some of the talk was about the need for our work to become more participatory. The idea is that everyone is an artist now and so everyone needs to create, not just sit and watch and so we, as arts organizations need to create opportunities for people to create. Here’s what I say to that: No we don’t.
Our responsibility is to provide the opportunity to see something beautiful and transcendent and life-changing. Something not everyone can do. If everyone can do it, I don’t want to see it. I create stuff. I write on this blog and I presented earlier this week at Pecha Kucha and I make ceramics and I LOVE to sing (but I wouldn’t subject anyone to it, nor would I make a you tube video of myself doing it). I don’t consider myself an artist with something to say that is so far above the fray that I should be presented in the Museum of Contemporary Art or on the stage of the Goodman. Maybe someday, you never know, but certainly not now.
I depend on the MCA and the Goodman and all of you to nurture and experiment and continue to search for and find those voices that carry expressions of the soul in a profound and moving way.
I love public and community art projects that draw people in to something that is larger than them, that results in a creation that asserts our humanity. And I think places where creativity is encouraged are magical – places like Lill Street where I make my pots and Old Town School of Folk Music.
We are not those places, we are the places where we hear the voice of another, where we set aside our own need to be heard and listen and are uplifted and fortified because we have seen something that truly had something to say – something that spoke to us like nothing else before.
Deb
Our responsibility is to provide the opportunity to see something beautiful and transcendent and life-changing. Something not everyone can do. If everyone can do it, I don’t want to see it. I create stuff. I write on this blog and I presented earlier this week at Pecha Kucha and I make ceramics and I LOVE to sing (but I wouldn’t subject anyone to it, nor would I make a you tube video of myself doing it). I don’t consider myself an artist with something to say that is so far above the fray that I should be presented in the Museum of Contemporary Art or on the stage of the Goodman. Maybe someday, you never know, but certainly not now.
I depend on the MCA and the Goodman and all of you to nurture and experiment and continue to search for and find those voices that carry expressions of the soul in a profound and moving way.
I love public and community art projects that draw people in to something that is larger than them, that results in a creation that asserts our humanity. And I think places where creativity is encouraged are magical – places like Lill Street where I make my pots and Old Town School of Folk Music.
We are not those places, we are the places where we hear the voice of another, where we set aside our own need to be heard and listen and are uplifted and fortified because we have seen something that truly had something to say – something that spoke to us like nothing else before.
Deb
CTI Investor Relations Webinar
Wednesday, June 22, 2011, 12:00pm - 3:00pmPrice: $75
12:00pm
Welcome
12:15pm - 1:00pm
Secrets of the Hunt
Debbie Bisno
1:00pm - 2:00pm
TBD
TBD
2:00pm - 2:45pm
Finding, Soliciting, & Fussing
Jed Bernstein
2:45 - 3:00pm
Questions and Wrap-up
Click here to register online.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Rehearsal Space Availability at Remy Bumppo
Remy Bumppo's rehearsal space at 3717 N Ravenswood is available for rental July 23 - Sept 4; also October and beyond. Rates vary from $11 - $16 per hour, depending on hours scheduled per week. Approximately 800 sq ft, air conditioned, close to Addison Brown Line. Contact Amy Schultz at aschultz@remybumppo.org or 773-244-8119.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Industry Ticket Offers
Million Dollar Quartet - Apollo Theater, 2540 N Lincoln in Chicago is offering a limted number of $20 industry tickets for the following performances: Thursday, June 9 - 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 12 - 6:30 p.m. Call 773-935-6100 to redeem this offer. Visit http://www.milliondollarquartetlive.com/.
TROGG! A Musical - Hell in a Handbag Productions at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. is offering $10 industry tickets for all Thursdays and Sundays until June 30. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. & 3 p.m. Use code word ‘industry’. Available online http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/165898, at the box office or call 1-800-838-3006. See http://www.handbagproductions.org/ for show details.
People We Know - the side project, 1439 W. Jarvis is offering free tickets to the staged reading of Robert Tenges' critically acclaimed and Jeff-Nominated play on Wednesday, June 8, 7:30 p.m. Reservations: tickets@thesideproject.net.
United Sounds of America: New York City Concert - Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Center, is offering industry professionals up to two (2) complimentary tickets on Friday, June 10, at 8pm. To order your tickets email coadr@cso.org with your name, address, phone number, and requested number of tickets by noon on Thursday, June 9, 2011. All tickets will be held at the Symphony Center Box office for pick-up on Friday, June 10. For more information on the United Sounds of America, visit www.cso.org/usa.
TROGG! A Musical - Hell in a Handbag Productions at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. is offering $10 industry tickets for all Thursdays and Sundays until June 30. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. & 3 p.m. Use code word ‘industry’. Available online http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/165898, at the box office or call 1-800-838-3006. See http://www.handbagproductions.org/ for show details.
People We Know - the side project, 1439 W. Jarvis is offering free tickets to the staged reading of Robert Tenges' critically acclaimed and Jeff-Nominated play on Wednesday, June 8, 7:30 p.m. Reservations: tickets@thesideproject.net.
United Sounds of America: New York City Concert - Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Center, is offering industry professionals up to two (2) complimentary tickets on Friday, June 10, at 8pm. To order your tickets email coadr@cso.org with your name, address, phone number, and requested number of tickets by noon on Thursday, June 9, 2011. All tickets will be held at the Symphony Center Box office for pick-up on Friday, June 10. For more information on the United Sounds of America, visit www.cso.org/usa.
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