The National Theatre
ANNUAL REPORT

The State of the Corporation
October 1, 1997 through September 30, 1998
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FIRST INTERNET ANNUAL REPORT

For the first time this year, The National Theatre is presenting its Annual Report via the Internet.  It is a pleasure to review for you our attractions, programs and projects, and some particular achievements of this past fiscal year.

The goal of the National Theatre Corporation is to keep this historic "Theatre of Presidents," which has operated at the same location three blocks from The White House since 1835, open, with top-quality live stage attractions on our mainstage.  Additionally, through our outreach programs, we bring free programs and other services to the public.

Our achievements would, of course, be impossible without the loyal and robust efforts of our staff: Executive Office Manager Natalie Forbes and Accountant, Tracie Powell, as well as our outreach program MC’s and Hosts: Todd Clark, Patricia Jennings, Gregory Lee and Sandra Pryor, our General Manager, Harry Teter, Jr., our Theatre Manager, Carol Hayes, and the House Staff of the National Theatre.

The Shubert Organization has provided us with first-rate productions and impeccable management services, for which we are grateful.  Certainly we could not succeed without the wise guidance and dedicated efforts of our Board of Trustees - Chairman: Jay Adams; President: Donn Murphy; Vice President: Sterling Tucker; Secretary: Jack Ryan; Treasurer: Margaret Lynn; Trustees: Martin Agronsky, Patrick Daly, Jack Golodner, Frances Howard, Victor Kamber, Carol Laxalt, Tom Mack, Genny Ryan, Bob Snyder. Neither could we have succeeded without the loyal patronage given by the supporters of our major outreach programs, and by our friends in the National Theatre Circle.

MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS

The National was alive with a variety of shows this year which brought to the theatre large audiences young and old, from a wide demographic spectrum.  The presentations were:

RENT (Washington premiere); CHICAGO (Washington premiere); BRING IN DA’ NOISE, BRING IN DA’ FUNK (Washington premiere); TAP DOGS (Washington premiere) and the inaugural appearance and Washington premiere of the National Touring company of RAGTIME.

With the exception of Tap Dogs (a show conceived in Australia), the attractions this year presented a panorama of Americana.  The productions were generally very well received by both audiences and the media.

RENT, a dynamic, Pulitzer Price winning rock musical, appealed to a new generation of theatregoers.  Groups of students stayed overnight, every night, awaiting the 28 special $20 “rush tickets” which were sold two hours before each performance.  On rainy evenings sleeping bags were pulled together under the marquee, creating what looked like an impromptu “pajama party.” On any given day, at least 50% of those in the line had seen the show previously, some as many as 15 and 30 times.  Some had the libretto memorized.

CHICAGO, scintillating with the choreography of Bob Fosse, was the ultimate in theatrical sophistication.

BRING IN DA’ NOISE, BRING IN DA’ FUNK told the story of African American in dazzling tap dance and robust music.

TAP DOGS brought brassy, macho tap dancing to the stage with a vigor rarely seen in any dance performance.

RAGTIME was a large and sometimes sobering musical saga of turn-of-the-century America, an era of immigration and enormous social change.

BARRYMORE EAGLE

In the fall of 1998, we inaugurated the Barrymore Eagle costumed character program which has proven enormously successful.  Barrymore B. Eagle, standing more than six-feet tall, was designed and created as a gift to the theatre from Walt Disney Entertainment.  Barrymore has made appearances at our own Saturday Morning programs, at our Dedicated Seat Reception for the Josh Logan Row, at Children’s Hospital, and at the White House Christmas Tree lighting where he was photographed with the President.  The members of the Barrymore Eagle Team are John Bentz, Jon Carrow, Cynthia Evans, Sheryl John, Betty Lanier and Krystal Morris.

WEBSITE: www.nationaltheatre.org

The National Theatre Website is maintained in-house through the generous patronage of ShireNet/Mediasoft Communication Systems, Inc., which more than any other commercial organization was responsible for inaugurating and fostering the web-sites of performing arts groups in the Greater Washington Area.  The site had been visited by more than 80,000 people as of September 30, 1997, and is now receiving on average some 1,000 visitors each week.

DEDICATED SEAT PROGRAM

Donors wishing to dedicate seats in the National Theatre may do so in return for a contribution.  A handsome brass plate is affixed to the seat, and a duplicate of the plate, handsomely mounted, is available to the donor.  We have had significant success this year through the efforts of our Treasurer and the trustees on the Presidential Row Committee, adding seats both in the Presidential Row, and throughout all seating areas of the theatre.  Newly dedicated orchestra seats honor American Presidents as well as friends and colleagues of famed director Josh Logan.  Presidents now honored are: George Bush, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Harry S. Truman.  Many members of the Logan family were present for the dedication of the Josh Logan Row.  Seats throughout the theatre honor theatre patrons and fans.  In the balcony, seats have been taken to honor three generations of one family, with the promise of seats for a fourth generation as well.  Other balcony seats are dedicated to Helen Hayes, and to a couple who had their first date in the seats which now have plaques with their names.

NATIONAL THEATRE CIRCLE

By the third week of January we had achieved 100% renewal of National Theatre Circle membership.  These loyal supporters make a wide variety of outreach activities possible, and the theatre considers them “family.”

MONDAY NIGHT AT THE NATIONAL

We have scheduled our Monday music, dance, comedy and drama series with particular attention to showcasing emerging artists and original material, and to reflecting wide racial, ethnic and cultural diversity.  Our change in the performance times this year from 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. has significantly increased attendance, and proven that we are successfully fulfilling a need and desire for free programming.  This program is sponsored by the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation and the trustees of the National Theatre.

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE NATIONAL

Our free family performances continued to brighten weekends for children and their parents this year.  The performers - a panoply of puppeteers, clowns, story-tellers, musicians and magicians - have riveted the attention of their audiences week after week, and the programs continue to be enormously popular.  We are exceedingly grateful for the long sponsorship of this program by Marriott International and the J.W. Marriott Foundation.

SUMMER CINEMA
Films were shown at the National Theatre during the summer months at 6:30 p.m. on Monday evenings in the Helen Hayes Gallery, where the national portrait of Miss Hayes is displayed.  Admission to these screenings was free.  The series was inaugurated in 1985.  Our theme this summer was “Divas of the Silver Screen,” and the stars featured  were: ELIZABETH TAYLOR in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF and THE TAMING OF THE SHREW; NATALIE WOOD in WEST SIDE STORY; LENA HORNE in CABIN IN THE SKY; GRACE KELLY in TO CATCH A THIEF; MARILYN MONROE in THE MISFITS and JUDY GARLAND in BROADWAY MELODY OF 1938.  There were door prizes for the first and final nights of the series.  Projection Equipment was once again provided courtesy of Charles A. Fazio and Vision Digital Media.

NATIONAL THEATRE COMMUNITY VAUDEVILLE

The National Theatre Community Vaudeville thrived during this fiscal year, due particularly to the efforts of Natalie Forbes and the commitment of our talented and dauntless performers who travel to senior citizen homes, children’s clubs and other 501.c.3 venues across the Greater Washington Area.  The program continues to bring joy to hundreds of shut-ins and other disadvantaged clients each year, at no cost to the venues.  Contributions of our National Theatre Circle members help fund this program.

TICKETS
Through the Special Patron Ticket Program and the Annie Oakley Fund, discounted, and in some cases free, tickets were made available to children, students, the disadvantaged, the disabled, certain military personnel and senior citizens.

DISABLED SERVICES
Additional and replacement equipment for our Audio Description and Infrared Hearing Assistance programs was added this year.  At least one signed performances was arranged for every attraction.  The Executive Office continues to assist disabled patrons with particular challenges.

COMMUNITY AFFILIATION
The National Theatre is a member of the League of Washington Theatres and the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington.

STAGES FOR ALL AGES
Preliminary plans were laid for cooperation with the League of Washington Theatres on this program designed to introduce  children and young people to "the magic of live theatre."  The project is scheduled to be launched in March of 1999.

FINANCIAL REPORT
The Annual Financial Audit is available at the National Theatre Corporate Office,
1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.

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