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The National Theatre is a 501.c.3 not-for-profit organization.
The National Theatre is a 501.c.3 not-for-profit organization. |
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Main Contents The National Theatre Annual ReportThe State of the CorporationOctober 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005Go to Reports from Other Years
Mainstage Productions
Mission
Trustees, Officers and Administration
Appreciation ~ Support ~ The National Theatre Circle
Circle Members contribute a minimum of $1,500 each year, which helps make a variety of free outreach activities possible. We are continually grateful for their ongoing support. Members of The National Theatre Circle as of September 30, 2005: American
Medical Association, Lee J. Stillwell Names in pale blue are Internet links.
Monday Night at the National
The series is sponsored by the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation and the trustees of the National Theatre. On the bill for this fiscal year were the following presentations: 2004-2005 Saturday Morning at the National
Summer Cinema
National Theatre Community Vaudeville
Performers from the National Theatre appeared at these venues during the year:
Tickets
Disabled Services
Archive
COMMUNITY
Arts on Foot
Financial Report
Respectfully submitted with my personal thanks to our trustees, to every member of the staff of the National Theatre, to our National Theatre Circle and other loyal supporters, and to thousands of patrons who enjoy performances here, and who provide the motivation and inspiration to keep this marvelous theatre alive.
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The National Theatre Corporation,
a 501.c3 nonprofit institution managed by The
Shubert Organization. |
this past
fiscal year ~ the 170th season for this historic playhouse,
the oldest continually operated Class-A legitimate professional theatre
in America.
MOVIN'
OUT played November 19, 2004 through December 19, 2004. With
dances by Twyla Tharp, and songs by Billy Joel played and sung by an
onstage band, this unusual show was acted and danced by performers
who did not speak. The story of one young man's growth from boyhood
to manhood, with a stint in Vietnam in between, was at time joyfully
humorous, and a other times searingly seriouis. One audience was especially
delighted when Billy Joel himself took to the stage during a curtain
call and gave an impromptu concert, singing his songs, and accomanying
at the keyboard.
DISNEY'S
ON THE RECORD played January 18, 2005 through Jan 30, 2005.
Set in a recording studio, the loose plot of this wordless musical
review involved competition between younger and older singers, who
learn from each other, and are in "perfect harmony" by the
rousing finale. Audiences enjoyed the more than 60 classic Disney songs
which were performed, often in surprisingly fresh reinterpretations.
Many were well-loved favorites from Disney films, and others were forgotten
or unknown song from the Disney "vault." A sophisticated
mood was created with all black-and-white costumes and a sleek suggestion
of a hi-tech recording studio.
I
AM MY OWN WIFE played March 29, 2005 through April 10, 2005.
The play is based on the true story of a wily transvestite who survived
the oppressive and suspicious regimes of both the Nazis and the Communists
in Germany, before during and after WWII. The play won The Pulitzer
Prize, and garnered Tonys on Broadway for Best Play and one for Jefferson
Mays as Best Actor. The touring production, with Mr. Mays as the one-man
cast playing many characters, attracted small but enthusiastic audiences.
Among those admirers who stood applauding at one curtain call was First
Lady Laura Bush. 
HANH
TRINH 30 NAM: A VIETNAMESE LEGACY played April 16 2005. A
packed house cheered this elaborate musical spectacular, which introduced
a number of young new pop performers to the Asian community. The concert
included more than three dozen lively numbers.
MAMMA
MIA! played May 17, 2005 through July 2, 2005. The popular
musical based on the music of ABBA made its third visit to Washington
and the National Theatre, and audiences one again stood in the aisles
and to dance and cheer at the spectacular finale. The story, a generational
conflict between an ex-hippe mother, and her more conservative daughter
, appeals to both young audiences and their elders, and to both those
who remember the great songs and those who are just becoming acquainted
with them.
The
goal of the National Theatre Corporation is to keep Washington's historic "Theatre
of Presidents" open and offering top-quality live stage attractions
in the nation's capital. Additionally, through our outreach programs,
we bring free performances and other services to the public. The National
Theatre Corporation was established in 1974. No governmental grants
are received by the theatre either for its maintenance, or for its
productions or outreach programsand services.
The
National Theatre was host once again this year to free performances
for high school students of the Greater Washington Area, presented
by 
The
National Theatre is a supporter of the Training Fund of the
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local #
22, the union to which our own stagehands belong. The union
conducts an ongoing schedule of training workshops, both basic
and advanced, in working venues including the National. The focus
is on new technologies, and hands-on training with in-house equipment.
The program addresses safe, efficient and effective use of theatrical
equipment - sound, lighting rigging, etc. A college certificate
program for stage technicians is offered in partnership with
Prince George's Community College. Stagehands in the photo are
shown adjusting rope lines and pulleys set into the steel grid
high above the stage. Safety is paramount here, since heavy pipes
and pieces of scenery will be attached to the lines. 
The
National Theatre supports the Annual Meeting of The College
of Fellows of the American Theatre, a distinguished honor
society, by hosting a reception prior to the Inductees Dinner,
which precedes a day-long meeting the next day at the Kennedy
Center. The College promotes and encourages the highest standards
of research and creativity in educational and professional entertainment,
through the recognition and honoring of distinguished service
and accomplishments in the field of theatre by designers, directors,
educators, performers, playwrights and producers of acknowledged
national stature. 
The
National first appeared on the Internet in 1995, among the
first web presences for a theatre in the Greater Washington
Area. The site received about 150,000 "hits" in
its first six years. After a major overhaul in 2002, the site
began registering more than 1,000,000 hits each year. We had 1,370,000
hits last year, and nearly doubled that number with 2,130,000
hits this year, for a total in all years of more than
4,000,000. Hits represent page visits by people looking for
information on our site.
In
2000 the theatre established an Email Information List. Messages
are sent to patrons who specifically request inclusion.for
information about our attractions and activities at the National.
The list was established using the email program in Netscape
Explorer. All "subscribes" and "unsubscribes" were
entered manually by the Executive Director.
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, with a dedicatory inscription provided by the
donor. This program was envisioned and inaugurated by our late
Treasurer, Margaret E. Lynn, and is now being administered
by Betsy Libretta. Links inviting patrons to consider dedicating
seats have been added to most pages of the website, and have
engendered some interest and contributions from visitors to
the site.
Our
free family performances brought happy audiences of local and
tourist and families: kids, parents and grandparents to the
Helen Hayes Gallery weekly in Fall and Spring for music, mimes,
plays, clowns and a variety of other performers. Our next-door
neighbor, Marriott, has been our supporting partner in these
programs with generous grants since they began in 1975. We
are extremely appreciative for 30 years of corporate sponsorship
of this program by MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC., and THE J.
WILLARD AND ALICE S. MARRIOTT FOUNDATION.
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 ~ inaugurated
in 1985 ~ was free. The films drew capacity crowds, and the audience
ranged from teens to seniors, Greater D.C. area residents and tourists.
Our children's film again proved very popular. The theme - PLAY BALL!
- was a tribute from the National Theatre to the Washington Nationals,
in their inaugural season. Projection Equipment was supplied again this
year courtesy of Circle member Charles A. Fazio and Vision Digital Media.
The
National Theatre is member of 
The
National Theatre participated again this year in the "Stages For All
Ages" program. This free or "two-for-one" ticket program encourages
adults to bring a child "for free" to a live theatre performance.
The program is administered by the League of Washington Theatres and funded
by The Washington Post to introduce children and young people to "the
magic of live theatre." 
In
September of 2003, Saturday Morning at the National was once again
- pardon the pun - the "Kick-Off" event for Arts On Foot,
the downtown arts promotion developed and produced by the Pennsylvania
Avenue Quarter Neighborhood Association. "Passports" distributed
at the National and other places were stamped as families and individuals
traveled among the many galleries and theatres which participated with
special programs. Barrymore Eagle was on hand at the National for our
Saturday Morning shows, posing for photos with happy children and pleased
parents.