The National Theatre
ANNUAL REPORT

The State of the Corporation
October 1 1998 through September 30, 1999
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SECOND INTERNET ANNUAL REPORT

For the second 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, not have been 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 and Backstage 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 - Chair: Jay Adams; President: Donn Murphy; Vice President: Sterling Tucker; Secretary: Tom Mack; Treasurer: Margaret Lynn; Trustees: Patrick Daly, Victor Kamber, Carol Laxalt, Jack Ryan and Genny Ryan. 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:

CATS - The Musical With Nine Lives - enlivened the National once again, this time for the Christmas/Hannukah, Kwanzaa holiday season.  A new generation of children where captivated by a vigorous young company in a still-stellar attraction.

LES MISERABLES, in its fifth return to Washington, and third visit to the National, brought an exceptional cast in a still glorious touring company.

BARRYMORE EAGLE

Following his inaugural appearance in the fall of 1998, Barrymore Eagle, our 7 ft. costumed character has proven enormously successful.  Our own "big bird" was designed and created as a gift to the theatre from Walt Disney Entertainment.  He welcomed children and their families to the Saturday Morning programs, greeted members of the College of Fellows of the American Theatre, and participated in 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 wa 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 welcomed more than 130,000 guests as of September 30, 1999, and continues to average some 1,000 hits each week.

MARTIN AGRONSKY

The National Theatre lost a revered trustee in 1999 with the death of Martin Agronsky, who had served on the board for many years.  Mr. Agronsky was greatly respected as a television journalist of national renown.  He was an early and major supporter of the theatre's Dedicated Seat Program: He held in his home a party to help launch the project.  He and his friends then subscribed to an entire row of orchestra seats which bear their names today.  Martin's wise counsel and warm friendship will be greatly missed.

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 continued to have 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, and the Presidential Row now includes Presidents George Bush, Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan and Harry Truman.  In the balcony, 18 seats have been taken to honor four generations of one family. 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 once again 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

Our Monday music, dance, comedy and drama showcase is scheduled with particular attention to showcasing emerging artists and original material, and to reflecting the wide racial, ethnic and cultural diversity of the Greater Washington Area.  Good audience attendance shows that we are successfully fulfilling a need and desire for free programming of this kind.  This series is sponsored by the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation and the trustees of the National Theatre, whose support we greatly appreciate.  On the bill this year were the following presentations.

1998 - FALL
Sep 28 - "SPIN THIS" - SOURCE THEATRE 10-MINUTE PLAYS
Oct  5 - SY-CLONE - TAPESTRY THEATRE
Oct 19 - WHAT I NEVER TOLD YOU BECAME A POEM - TONY ASSANTE LIGHTFOOT COMPANY
Oct 26 - MUSIC OF THE NIGHT - JAMES McCULLY OPERA CONCERT
Nov  2 - MABEL MERCER, JOSEPHINE BAKER & EARTHA KITT - PRESENTED BY CHARISMA
Nov  9 - SEMPLE-MINDED - KWAMI ALEXANDER
Nov 16 - I CANTANTI SINGERS
Nov 23 - THE DRUMMINGS - AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL OF IRELAND

1999 - SPRING

Jan 25 - EAST OF THE RIVER STEELBAND
Feb  1 - A DANCE FOR MAMADIVA - EBONY AND PAT WARREN
Feb  8 - TWO WEEKS AFTER THE MILLENNIUM - TODD CLARK & IRA KAMENS
Feb 22 - AN EVENING IN BLUE AND GRAY - GARY SCHWARTZ AND TONY DeROSA
Mar  1 - LOCKDOWN - CITY AT PEACE
Mar  8 - CHAOS STANDING - DC ARTS CENTER
Mar 15 - DOUBLE DOWN IRISH INSTRUMENTAL DUO
Mar 22 - FAIRFAX CHINESE DANCE TROUPE
Mar 29 - AL ROBERTSON - SINGER
Apr  5 - SIXTY KARATS SENIOR TAP TROUPE

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, and the trustees of the National Theatre.

Sep 12 - REPTILE WORLD with MICHAEL SHWEDICK
Sep 19 - THE MYSTERIES OF ALAIN NU
Sep 26 - LINDA LOU AND THE LUCKY FOUR
Oct  3 - MIRACULOUS MAGICAL BALLOON - Stanislavsky Theater Studio.
Oct 10 - BILL WELLINGTON of RADIO WOOF
Oct 17 - THE MAGIC OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN by APPLAUSE UNLIMITED
Oct 24 - BLACKHAWK Native American storyteller
Oct 31 - LULA, THE HALLOWEEN WITCH
Nov  7 - SPENCER "SPINNY" JOHNSON - basketball star
Nov 14 - JOGI & THE RAINBOW with JOE PIPIK
Nov 21 - HANSEL AND GRETEL by the Children’s Theatre of Arlington
Dec  5 - KWANZAA!  KWANZAA! With MARIA BROOM
Jan 23 - THE ADVENTURES OF CORDUROY BY Theatre IV
Jan 30 - DINOSAURS FOREVER! by Dinorock Productions
Feb  6 - KISSY & TRACEY’S EARLY VALENTINE PARTY
Feb 20 - BENJAMIN BANNEKER by BOB SMITH
Mar 20 - YO-YO FUN AND SCIENCE OF SPIN with Dick Stohr
Mar 27 - LAURA GREEN THE JUGGLING QUEEN
Apr 10 - TALES OF A MYSTERIOUS LAND by APPLAUSE UNLIMITED
Apr 17 - JIM NIEB AND THE FIVE NIEBINSKIS

SUMMER CINEMA 1999
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 “YK2 MADNESS" and the films were:

JUN 14 - METROPOLIS
JUN 21 - 12 MONKEYS
JUL 12 - CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON IN 3-D
JUL 19 - BACK TO THE FUTURE
JUL 16 - CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
AUG 2 - WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953)
AUG 9 - BLADE RUNNER
AUG 16 - MARS ATTACKS! 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, who schedules and manages the program, and to the commitment of our talented and heroic performers who travel to senior citizen homes, shelters, community 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.

1998
13 Oct - Rockville Senior Center - JOHN SAUSSER - PERCUSSIONIST
16 Oct - Respite Center - ANNA PAPPAS SONG & DANCE TROUPE
23 Oct - St. Mary's Court Housing - ANNA PAPPAS SONG & DANCE TROUPE
23 Oct - Holiday Park Senior Center - ANNA PAPPAS SONG & DANCE TROUPE
 1 Nov - Waverly House - AL CHERRY - SONGS & WISDOM
 3 Nov - Friends House - AL CHERRY - SONGS & WISDOM
 3 Nov - Holiday Park Senior Center - CATHY & COMPANY  - DANCERS
10 Dec - Family Respite Center - LYNN McCUNE - VOCALIST
11 Dec - Friendship Terrace Community Center - LYNN McCUNE - VOCALIST
18 Dec - Lincolnia Senior Center - LYNN McCUNE - VOCALIST
18 Dec - Adas Israel Congregation - ANNA PAPPAS SONG & DANCE TROUPE

1999
 4 Feb - Greenbelt Adult Center - LYNN McCUNE - VOCALIST
 9 Feb - Washington Center for the Aging - PEGGY DISROE - POETRY & STORIES
12 Feb - Friendship Terrace Community Group - LYNN McCUNE - VOCALIST
23 Feb - Lorton, Virginia Senior Center - LYNN McCUNE - VOCALIST
26 Feb - Friendship Terrace Community Group - AL CHERRY - SONGS & WISDOM
27 Feb - Greater Southwest Community Center - SOUL IN MOTION
 3 Mar - Bartholomew House - Donato Sorano - OPERA PROGRAM
 5 Mar - Washington Center for the Aging - PEGGY DISROE - POETRY & STORIES
19 Mar - Lincolnia Senior Center - ANNA PAPPAS SONG & DANCE TROUPE
27 Mar - Waverly House - AL CHERRY - SONGS & WISDOM
 9 Apr - Little Sisters of the Poor - MARGIE TOMPROS - SINGER/ACTOR
 9 Apr - Greater Southeast Community Center - MICHAEL FRIEND
22 Apr - Friendship Terrace Community Group - CLASS ACT SONG, DANCE & COMEDY
23 Apr - Little River Glen Senior Center - RESTEL BELL - VIOLINIST
 4 May - Rockville Senior Center - CABARET CAPERS REVUE
 5 May - St. Martin's Senior Residence - CLASS ACT SONG, DANCE & COMEDY
 5 May - Greenbelt Adult Center - CLASS ACT SONG, DANCE & COMEDY
17 May - Friends' House - CLAIRE CHERRY - SINGER
29 May - Little Sisters of the Poor - CATHY & COMPANY DANCE TROUPE
 2 Jun - Waverly House - CLAIRE CHERRY - SINGER
25 Jun - Holiday Park - AL CHERRY - SONGS & WISDOM
19 Jul - Bauer Recreation Center - CLAIRE CHERRY - SINGER
27 Jul - Goodwin House, Inc. - DONATO SORANO - OPERA PROGRAM
29 Jul - St. Martin DePores Center - MARGIE TOMPROS - SINGER/ACTOR
17 Aug - Friends' House - MICHAEL CONSOLI - OPERA PROGRAM
17 Aug - Rockville Senior Center - AL CHERRY - SONGS & WISDOM
24 Aug - Greenbelt Adult Center - KEN NORRIS MAGIC
27 Aug - Friendship Terrace - AL CHERRY - SONGS & WISDOM
30 Aug - Bauer Center - LYNN McCUNE - VOCALIST
 9 Sep - Waverly House - LYNN McCUNE - VOCALIST
15 Sep - Little Sisters of the Poor - RADFORD SCHANTZ

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.  Our Annie Oakley guests during the previous and current fiscal year included:

1997
 9 Oct - D.C. Public Schools - RENT
21 Oct - Mentors, Inc. - RENT
17 Nov - D.C. Public Schools - BRING IN DA NOISE/BRINK IN DA FUNK

1998
30 Jan - Samaritan Inns, Inc. - TAP DOGS
 2 Feb - Residential Youth Services, Inc. - TAP DOGS
 3 Feb - Kramer Junior High School - TAP DOGS
 6 Feb - Howard University Youth Violence Prevention Program - TAP DOGS
25 Feb - New Community After School & Advocacy Program - TAP DOGS
11 May - Big Brothers - RAGTIME
11 May - Jewish Council for the Aging - RAGTIME
11 May - Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States - RAGTIME
18 May - Holy Comforter - St. Cyprian Community Action Group - RAGTIME
26 May - F & N Home Group - RAGTIME
28 May - Route One Corridor Housing, Inc. - RAGTIME
26 Jul - Good Shepherd Ministries, Inc. - RAGTIME
26 Jul - Senior Citizens Counseling and Delivery Service - RAGTIME
10 Dec - Braddock Crossing - CATS
10 Dec - Northwest Church Family Network - CATS

1999
17 Feb - New Endeavors by Women - CATS
27 Feb - Fairfax County Family Services - THE WIZARD OF OZ
27 Feb - The Shriver Center - University of Baltimore - THE WIZARD OF OZ
27 Feb - Metropolitan Police Boys/Girls Club - THE WIZARD OF OZ

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
In March, 1999, the National Theatre's mainstage production of THE WIZARD OF OZ, as well as Saturday Morning at the National and two special Monday Night at the National shows where part of the "Stages of All Ages" program.  This "two-for-one" ticket program encourages adults to bring a child "for free" to a live theatre performance.  The League of Washington Theatres and The Washington Post inaugurated the program which is intended to introduce  children and young people to "the magic of live theatre."

ARTS ON FOOT
In September of 1999, Saturday Morning at the National was the "kick-off" event for this downtown arts promotion developed and sponsored by the Pennsylvania Avenue Quarter.  "Passports" distributed at the National and other places were "stamped" as families and individuals visited the many galleries and theatres which participated with special programs.

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

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